Get a Passport for 2010 World Cup Soccer
Anticipation of a soccer match between two top clubs caused the Passport office in Accra, Ghana to become packed with anxious soccer fans eager to acquire passports.
The passport agency had more applicants than it could handle inside already and had even more outside. There was actually a struggle at the door as a security guard received resistance after announcing that no one else would be allowed inside.
People outside complained that the process to receive the new biometric passport was supposed to be easy, but it is not the case.
Some had been there since early in the morning and were denied entry to the passport agency. The crowd of would be passport applicants people began squabbling with eachother claiming that others were stepping on their shoes, and dirtying their clothes.
Previously passport processing had been handled by the Immigration Office and due to recent problems people were quick to display their disapproval towards the new system. Some potential applicants blamed the biometric passport era for creating such problems and accused the government of nepotism.
The biometric passport was introduced to Ghana this year to help make sure that every Ghanaian applying for a passport was included in a national database. The hope is that this will signifcatly reduce the possibility of double acquisition of passports. Another issue in Ghana that the institution of biometric passports seeks to eliminate passport theft.
When it comes to passports and international travel, the world needs to be on the same page.