Foreign Affairs Minister ‘sacks’ officers on secondment at the Passport Office over corruption-related issues

Shirley-Ayorkor-Botchwey
Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has expressed her displeasure at continued extortion and corruption-related actions at the Passport Office.

The Minister who went to the passport office couldn’t understand why the people who work there subject applicants to extortion and disrespect.

As a result, all security employees seconded to the office have been relieved of their duties effective Monday, August 21, 2023.

The Minister bemoaned the fact that politicians are constantly blamed for corruption while, in most situations, civil workers initiate corrupt actions and politicians are blamed for them.

She said, “Everybody who has been here for more than one year, from Monday on, please do not come back because you have been changed. We want to restore some sanity. Every time politicians are corrupt, meanwhile, it is some public civil servants who will do things that shouldn’t be done, and then they will be put on politicians”.

According to her, efforts to bring sanity to the Passport Office are being sabotaged by some civil servants.

The Minister said that soon after the Ghana card is issued to every single Ghanaian, there will be no need to have any other agency at the Passport Office aside from the printing department.

She stressed the need for workers at the Passport Office to stop extorting monies from applicants.

She instructed employees to be disciplined, to maintain excellent work standards, and to treat candidates with respect.

The Minister stated that the complaints had become too many, which is why she stormed the office to take this approach.

Meanwhile, the Minister has indicated that investigations into the operations of ‘goro boys’ who are extorting money from applicants with the help of office staff are proceeding.

The Fire Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Police, the Ghana Armed Forces, National Security, and four other agencies were all affected.

Officers who are largely on secondment are not to stay longer than five months because they are suspected of being corrupted.

The Minister went on to say that the ‘goro guys’ are outsiders who cannot function alone and must collaborate with some Passport Office employees.

She stated that public workers who are supposed to serve Ghanaians should not be involved in corrupt agreements.

She cautioned that those found guilty will be prosecuted to act as a deterrence to others.