Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Minister for Foreign Affairs, yesterday issued a hotline service number to Ghanaians for use when they encounter difficulties in acquiring passports.

The general public should contact: 021-684711, if they cannot get their passport within a month, and they are assured of their passport within 24 hours.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman, speaking at a press conference in Accra, said this system "would inform the nation to eliminate so-called passport contractors and ensure that people are not involved in bribery, which has frozen many citizens from travelling."

He said that the ministry has developed a mechanism whereby passport acquisition should not delay for more than four weeks. The operation of this system has been piloted for two months and proved successful.

He cautioned 'passport contractors' to refrain from collecting exorbitant bribes from customers. "Anyone who is caught in the act collecting money from a customer, would be charged with criminal offence, dismissed from post and handed over to the police."

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman said the Ministry recognising the seriousness of the situation petitioned the President for a special allocation to help manage the new system. For a start, a standby generator has been installed to ensure that work goes on, in case of a black out.

He said in a situation where the applicant needs an emergency passport, the new system would deliver within a timeframe of three to twenty-four hours.

The Minister said because of gross misappropriation in the issue of diplomatic passports, the number has been cut down from 1,800 to 660.