Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has told Parliament that the GhanaCard is not an E-passport.

She said this on the floor of the House Tuesday when asked by the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu whether the GhanaCard is an e-passport.

She said “It is not. By its definition, it is not. The GhanaCard is not a replacement to our current biometric passport. GhanaCard may serve as optional travel document to be used in tandem with our biometric passport.

“It must be underscored that the passport, together with the travel certificate are the only approved travel documents for the Ghanaian, they are internationally recognized.

“At the moment, the GhanaCard cannot be used for travel to other countries either within outside of ECOWAS as that will require bilateral agreement with countries for their authorities to accept the card as travel document. The Ministry is in active discussion with ECOWAS member states and our bilateral partners to achieve this.”

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) on February 28 announced to the public that beginning today, Tuesday, March 1, a valid Ghana Card would be accepted for nationals and dual nationals returning to the country.

Regarding this, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told Parliament that “However in light of the announcement by the Ghana Immigration Service titled ‘Notice to the Public: Use of GhanaCard as a travel document which was dated 24th of February, Ghanaian and dual national holders of Ghana Card would be able to travel to Ghana using the Ghana Card.”