Ghanaians in Germany petition for reduced passport fees

A Ghanaian association has submitted a formal appeal to Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany, Her Excellency Gina Blay, requesting a reduction in the fees charged by the embassy for passport issuance. The embassy charges 300 euros for new passport applications.

The letter, signed by Mr Emmanuel Danso on behalf of the ‘Ghanaian Community Germany’, outlines several key reasons for the requested fee reduction, focusing on the financial burden that current fees impose on Ghanaian nationals living in Germany, especially pensioners.

The Ghanaian Community Germany argue that the fees in Germany are notably higher compared to other European countries, creating a sense of inequity and prompting calls for fairness.

The letter proposes that by lowering these fees, the embassy can help strengthen ties between Ghanaians abroad and their home country, fostering goodwill and demonstrating a commitment to the well-being of its citizens.

With inhabitants of Germany facing increased living costs due to inflation, high consular fees are an additional strain to Ghanaians living in the country.

Consular services, like passport issuance, are essential for citizens living abroad, ensuring they can maintain their legal status and travel when needed. For the diaspora, these services are critical, especially for students, workers and families who depend on mobility for their livelihoods.

Governments should ensure that such services are affordable to avoid excluding or disadvantaging any segment of the population. In the case of Ghana, the diaspora is a key contributor to the economy through remittances and investments. Supporting them by reducing consular fees would be a demonstration of goodwill, reflecting the government’s recognition of the important role the diaspora plays in national development.

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Here’s full text of the petition:

The Ambassador
Embassy of Ghana
Stavangerstral3e 17-19

10439 Berlin

15.10.2024

Dear HE Gina Blay,

APPEAL FOR REDUCTION OF PASSPORT APPLICATION FOR NEW APPLICANTS

We would like to express our sincere gratitude for your efforts in facilitating the reinstatement process for our community members. However, we kindly wish to bring to your attention an appeal regarding the current 300 EUR fees for new passport applications. As members of the Ghanaian community in Germany, we kindly appeal for a reconsideration of this fee, suggesting that it be aligned with the cost of passport renewals. We believe this adjustment would be fairer and more manageable for many of us.

Below are some reasons supporting our appeal:

⦁ Renunciation and Passport Overlap: Many of us have already paid for renunciation certificates, but delays in the process forced some to also apply for new biometric passports. These passports, issued just weeks before receiving the renunciation certificate, were immediately returned to the embassy. Charging these applicants the full fee for what is technically not a “lost” passport is unreasonable under these circumstances. We believe they should be treated as renewals.

⦁ Non-Lost Passport Status: Many applicants are not replacing lost passports; they are simply renewing after returning their old passports to the embassy. We should not be charged at a higher rate as if the passport was lost, especially when the passport is being processed through the embassy itself. We kindly request that new applicants be charged the same rate as renewals

⦁ Comparable Costs in Other Countries: In countries like Norway, Ghanaians pay around 98 EUR for a new passport. Given that Norway’s economic situation is comparable to Germany, it is difficult to understand why the cost in Germany is over three times higher. Most other EU countries have similar fees for new passports, and we hope that the embassy can adopt a similar fee structure.

⦁ Financial Strain on Pensioners and Families: A large proportion of the Ghanaian community in Germany, especially in southern regions, consists of pensioners and their families, with 4-6 members in some cases. Many find it extremely difficult to bear the cost of both the passport application and transportation to Berlin, which can range from 450 EUR to 600 EUR for those traveling from southern Germany. This added financial burden makes it nearly impossible for some families to manage the costs.

⦁ Encouraging More Applications: By lowering the passport fees, the embassy could encourage more people to apply locally in Berlin rather than waiting for their trips to Ghana to process the passport at the much lower rate of 30 EUR. This would not only provide greater convenience for the community but also help the embassy improve its outreach and service.

We kindly ask for your understanding of the challenges we are facing and hope that the embassy will consider lowering the fees for new passports to match the renewal fee.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Sarfo Okrah
+4917623101924
benokrah@gmail.com

Ghanaian Community Germany

⦁ Mr. Kwaku Appiah (017621845702)
⦁ Mr. Robert Oppong Mensah
⦁ Mr. David Karikari
⦁ Nana Agya Owusu
⦁ Mr. Kwame Sekyere
⦁ Ato Annobil
⦁ Mr. Nii Karley Commodor
⦁ Mr. Thomas Appiah
⦁ Dr. Arna Edem Tamakloe
⦁ Mr. Randy Adam Beth
⦁ Pastor Eric Gyamera
⦁ Mr. Akwasi Owusu
⦁ Dr.-Ing. Matthew Bediako Okrah
⦁ Mr. Isaac Oteng
⦁ Ms. Irene Silas
⦁ Mr. Roy Asabre
⦁ Mr. Kwasi Adu-Gyamfi
⦁ Mr. Kwame Amoako
⦁ Mr. Michael Akai Nettey
⦁ Nana Ampabeng Kyeremeh
⦁ Mr. Yaw Kyeremeh Ampabeng
⦁ Mr. Kofi Obeng Kyremeh
⦁ Mrs. Dennice Okrah
⦁ Ing. Dr. Jerome Kpan
⦁ Mr. Kwasi Klinke
⦁ Mr. Addo Twum-Boafo
⦁ Ms. Henrietta Akosua Peprah
⦁ Mr. Saeedu Aposon
⦁ Mr. Edward Osei Gyamera
⦁ Ms. Irene Springfield
⦁ Mr. Justice Donkor
⦁ Mr. Yaw Amoapim Prempeh
⦁ Mr. Daniel Kwasi Peprah
⦁ Mr. Bernie Keteku
⦁ Mr. Archibald Stork
⦁ Mr. Michael Kelvin Quame Amuzu
⦁ Ms. Clara Schwab
⦁ Ms. Arna Pepra
⦁ Mr. Anthony Kyeremeh Ampabeng
⦁ Mr. Samuel Zuta
⦁ Ms. Hanna Mensah
⦁ Mr. Andrew Mensah
⦁ Mr. Stefan Owusu Bediako
⦁ Ms. Anita Bediako
⦁ Mr. Nana Yaw Bediako
⦁ Mr. Emmanuel Ampratwum
⦁ Ms. Brenda Appiah
⦁ Mr. Wesley Appiah
⦁ Mr. Alan Kpan
⦁ Mr. Sammy Adjei
⦁ Mr. Osei Kofi

⦁ Mr Nii Karley Commodore
⦁ Mr. Steve Kwame Ofori
⦁ Mr. Samuel Zuta
⦁ Mr Gilbert Asuming
⦁ Mr. Jonathan Folan
⦁ Mr. William Boakye Boateng

CC: Hon Minister of Foreign Affairs
CC: Hon Minister of Interior
CC: Director, Diaspora Affairs
CC: Germany Embassy Accra
CC: Foreign Ministry Berlin