The Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Mr. Emmanuel Amoako Yirenkyi, has stated that his outfit only facilitates the issuance of passports and that it was not the principal issuing authority.
Mr. Yirenkyi said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the main body responsible for issuing passports and appealed to applicants, who always blame the GIS for delays in getting their passports, to be patient.
He made these remarks during a visit by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Opoku-Manu, to Ministries Department and Agencies (MDA) in Kumasi on Thursday.
Mr Opoku-Manu, accompanied by his Deputy, Madam Anima Wilson, visited the Auditor General's Department, Lands Commission, the GIS, Labour Department, Ghana Standard Board and the National Population Council.
He also called at the Controller and Accountant General's Department, Administrator of Stool Lands, Lands Valuation Board, Civil Servants Association and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Officials at almost all the departments the Minister visited mentioned office and residential accommodation as a major challenge facing them.