In a riveting speech, MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cast doubt on the government’s grand claims about chip-embedded passports.
He revealed a startling admission by Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who confessed in a committee session that technical and contractual hurdles had stalled the implementation of these futuristic passports.
With fiery conviction, Ablakwa lambasted the minister’s handling of the passport fee increase, accusing her of disdainful behavior towards the parliamentary committee and a lack of transparency in decision-making. He recounted a dramatic scene from a budget session where the minister hinted at hiking fees without a solid rationale and subsequently bypassed bipartisan scrutiny, leaving the committee feeling betrayed and undermined.
Ablakwa didn’t stop there; he criticized the minister’s rationale for the fee hike, arguing passionately for equal access to passport services regardless of financial status. He painted a vivid picture of how existing fee structures already provided subsidies for the less privileged and advocated for free passports for certain groups in need.
Mr. Ablakwa urged the government to redirect its focus towards tackling real national challenges like economic woes, unemployment, and poverty, rather than burdening citizens with hefty fees. With a warning tone, he cautioned that any attempts at deception or conspiracy would backfire spectacularly, urging a reevaluation of the government’s approach to passport services.
Mercy Addai/ Ahotoronline.com
