The Passport Head Office at Ridge in Accra has been temporarily closed following an alleged attack on staff by a group of aggrieved Zongo youth.
According to sources, the incident occurred on Friday night, May 9, when the group stormed the premises demanding the immediate release of their passports to prepare for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage.
A source told Citi News that no explanation offered by officials could appease the crowd.
“No explanation to the angry mob was satisfactory to them,” the source stated.
The situation escalated to the point where the Director of Passports and a foreign consultant, assigned to fast-track passport processing for pilgrims, had to flee the scene for their safety.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs had recently launched a 24-hour passport service to cut down the passport acquisition period to 15 days and also ensure backlogs are cleared in time. The launch included a courier delivery service. The initiative also included a week-long shift system, with staff working both day and night to serve applicants efficiently.
However, during a visit to the Ridge office at 1:54 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, Citi News observed that only one plaincloth security officer was present at the gate, and two other foreign nationals exited the premises.
Sources indicated that on the night of the incident, only two police officers were on duty and were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.
“They were overwhelmed by the numbers. There were over 20 well-built men who came on motorbikes,” the source said.
It remains unclear when full passport services will resume at the head office. Citi News understands that an official complaint has yet to be filed at the police station.
Fati Musah, a passport applicant who arrived at the head office to collect her chip-embedded passport, was turned away by security.
She expressed frustration, noting, “Some Muslims are due to leave for Hajj on Monday, while the rest depart on Tuesday. Any further delays could affect my travel.”
Meanwhile, some pilgrims are expected to depart Accra on Saturday, May 10, via a direct flight from Tamale.
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