Ghana’s Ashanti Region is expected to get a second Passport Application Centre in Ashanti Mampong by the first quarter of 2027, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs moves to reduce pressure on the existing passport office in Kumasi. The new centre is intended to serve applicants who currently have to travel long distances to Kumasi for biometric capture and other passport services.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the new centre during a working visit to the Ashanti Regional Passport Application Centre in Kumasi on October 14, 2026. The existing Kumasi Passport Application Centre remains open and continues to process applications, so applicants do not need to wait until 2027 to apply for a passport.
Below is a practical guide to where the current Kumasi centre is located, what the new Mampong centre is expected to do, how much Ghana passports cost in 2026, and how the application process works.
Table of Contents
- Where Will the New Passport Centre Be?
- When Will It Open?
- Where Is the Current Kumasi Passport Centre?
- Why Is Ashanti Getting a Second Centre?
- Current Ghana Passport Fees
- How Long Does Passport Processing Take?
- How to Apply for a Ghana Passport
- Documents You Need
- Where Is Biometric Capture Done?
- What Is the Mobile Passport Application Centre?
- Are Passport Centres Available in All Regions?
Where Will the New Ashanti Passport Application Centre Be Located?
The second Passport Application Centre will be located in Ashanti Mampong. The Foreign Affairs Minister said work has already progressed on the new centre and that a site has been secured.
The new office is intended to complement the existing Kumasi centre rather than replace it. Once operational, residents in Mampong and surrounding parts of the Ashanti Region should have a closer option for biometric capture and passport processing.
When Will the Mampong Passport Centre Open?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is targeting the first quarter of 2027, meaning the planned opening period falls between January and March 2027. A specific opening day has not yet been announced.
Where Is the Current Kumasi Passport Application Centre?
The current Ashanti Regional Passport Application Centre is in Adum, Kumasi. Its location is Guggisberg Road, opposite the Public Works Department, Adum, near the Ministries area, Kumasi.
The centre handles biometric capture and other passport application procedures for applicants who select Kumasi during the online application process. Kumasi will continue operating after the Mampong centre opens.
Why Is Ashanti Region Getting a Second Passport Centre?
The Ministry says the existing Kumasi centre is under significant pressure because of the size of the Ashanti Region’s population and the number of applicants it serves. Residents in some parts of the region also have to travel considerable distances to Kumasi for scheduled biometric capture.
The Mampong centre is intended to reduce congestion at the Kumasi Passport Application Centre, shorten travel distances for applicants, improve access to biometric services and expand passport processing capacity in the region. The Ministry is also planning renovations at the Kumasi centre in 2027.
How Much Does a Ghana Passport Cost in 2026?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently offers regular, expedited and premium passport services. The amount applicants pay depends on the passport size and speed of service selected.
| Service | Passport Size | Fee | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | 32 pages | GH¢350 | 15 working days |
| Regular | 48 pages | GH¢644 | 15 working days |
| Expedited | 32 pages | GH¢700 | 7 working days |
| Expedited | 48 pages | GH¢800 | 7 working days |
| Premium | 48 pages | GH¢2,000 | 24-48 hours |
Passport processing fees are non-refundable once an application has been submitted. Premium service is also available only through designated premium centres, so applicants should confirm availability before selecting that option.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Ghana Passport?
The Ministry currently lists three main service levels. Regular passport applications are targeted for completion within 15 working days, expedited applications within 7 working days, and premium applications within approximately 24 to 48 hours.
Actual delivery can still be affected if an application contains errors, missing documents or requires additional verification. Applicants should therefore avoid booking non-refundable travel solely around the estimated processing period unless they already have the passport in hand.
How Do You Apply for a Ghana Passport?
The passport application process begins online through the official Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal at passport.mfa.gov.gh. Applicants complete the online form, select a service type, pay the required fee and choose a Passport Application Centre.
After the online stage, applicants attend their selected centre for biometric capture and document verification. The general process is:
- Create or sign into your online account.
- Select the passport service you need.
- Complete the application form.
- Pay the required fee.
- Select a Passport Application Centre.
- Book or receive your biometric appointment.
- Attend the PAC with the required original documents.
- Complete biometric capture and verification.
- Track the application online.
- Receive the completed passport through the approved delivery process.
Applicants should avoid unofficial agents or websites claiming they can bypass the official process or guarantee special treatment.
What Documents Do You Need for a New Ghana Passport?
The Ministry’s current passport portal lists several documents for a new application, and applicants should bring the original documents to the Passport Application Centre. Photocopies alone are not accepted where originals are required for verification.
For a standard new application, the required documents include:
- Printed and signed online passport application form.
- Birth certificate.
- Ghana Card.
- Proof of profession, where applicable.
- Passport application payment receipt.
Minors require additional documents, including parental or guardian identification and a consent form. For more details about applications for children, see our Ghanaian passport for a child guide.
Where Is Biometric Capture Done?
After completing the online application, applicants must attend a selected Passport Application Centre for biometric capture. The process generally includes identity verification, fingerprints and the applicant’s passport photograph.
Applicants should choose a PAC that is convenient for them when completing the online application. Once the Mampong centre opens, it is expected to provide another biometric location within the Ashanti Region.
What Is Ghana’s Mobile Passport Application Centre?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also expanding a Mobile Passport Application Centre service, essentially a passport office on wheels. Passport staff can travel to institutions, communities or other locations to provide services that would otherwise require applicants to visit a permanent Passport Application Centre.
One of the main functions is biometric capture. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said in October 2026 that the Ministry intends to make the Mobile Passport Application Centre a permanent service, while Parliament is expected to consider a fee for its use.
No final permanent Mobile Passport Application Centre fee had been announced when this article was updated. Applicants should therefore be cautious about anyone advertising a fixed official mobile-service charge before the Ministry publishes the approved amount.
Are Passport Application Centres Available in All 16 Regions?
Yes. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs completed a major decentralization effort that resulted in Passport Application Centres being established across all 16 regions.
Before that expansion, Ghana had passport centres in only nine of the country’s 16 regions. New centres were opened in:
- Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
- Dambai in the Oti Region.
- Techiman in the Bono East Region.
- Damongo in the Savannah Region.
- Goaso in the Ahafo Region.
- Nalerigu in the North East Region.
- Sefwi Wiawso in the Western North Region.
The Ministry says applicants should generally use the centre nearest to where they live rather than travelling unnecessarily to Accra.
Current Passport Application Centres Across Ghana
Ghana now has Passport Application Centres serving all 16 regions. Some regions, particularly Greater Accra, have more than one location.
| Region | Main Passport Application Centre |
|---|---|
| Greater Accra | Accra, Ridge and Tema |
| Ashanti | Kumasi, Adum |
| Central | Cape Coast |
| Western | Takoradi / Sekondi |
| Western North | Sefwi Wiawso |
| Eastern | Koforidua |
| Volta | Ho |
| Oti | Dambai |
| Bono | Sunyani |
| Bono East | Techiman |
| Ahafo | Goaso |
| Northern | Tamale |
| North East | Nalerigu |
| Savannah | Damongo |
| Upper East | Bolgatanga |
| Upper West | Wa |
Applicants should confirm the current address, appointment availability and service options through the official passport portal before travelling.
Do You Have to Return to the Passport Office to Collect Your Passport?
Not necessarily. Ghana’s passport reforms include a courier delivery system that allows completed passports to be delivered to applicants rather than requiring everyone to return to the Passport Application Centre.
The Ministry says nationwide delivery is available for Ghana residents under the current passport service structure. This can reduce the need for applicants to make a second long-distance journey solely to collect a completed passport.
What Should Ashanti Region Applicants Do Right Now?
If you need a passport before the Mampong centre opens, continue using the current Kumasi Passport Application Centre or another available PAC selected through the official online system. There is no reason to delay an urgent application simply because a new office is planned for 2027.
Residents closer to Mampong may benefit from the new centre once it becomes operational, but the Ministry has not yet announced an exact opening date or published appointment availability for the facility.
The Kumasi Passport Centre Is Also Expected to Be Renovated
The second Ashanti centre is not the only planned improvement. The Foreign Affairs Ministry also intends to renovate the existing Kumasi Passport Application Centre, with funding expected to be included in the Ministry’s 2027 budget.
The Minister cited the condition of furniture, equipment and the general working environment during his October inspection. The Ministry has also purchased 20 pickup vehicles for Passport Application Centres to improve staff mobility, including support for mobile passport services.
Bottom Line
Ashanti Region is expected to have two major Passport Application Centres by the first quarter of 2027. The existing centre in Adum, Kumasi will continue operating, while a second centre is planned for Ashanti Mampong.
The expansion is intended to reduce congestion in Kumasi and make passport services easier to reach for applicants living elsewhere in the region. Applicants do not need to wait for the new centre to open, because Ghana’s current passport application process remains available through existing Passport Application Centres across all 16 regions.
The process begins online through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport portal, followed by biometric capture and document verification at a selected centre. Anyone applying should use official Ministry channels and avoid unofficial intermediaries offering faster processing or special access.
Sources
- MyJoyOnline: “Ashanti Region to get second Passport Application Centre by 2027” (October 15, 2026)
- Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Official Passport Application Portal, Fees and Processing Times
- Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Passport Required Documents
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Rollout of Passport Application Centres in Regional Capitals
- Graphic Online: Passport Office Lists Biometric Centres in All 16 Regions
- MyJoyOnline: Foreign Affairs Ministry Procures 20 Pickups to Improve Passport Services
