Foregin Minister re-assigns Kwasi Asante as Director of Passports

Mr. Kwasi Asante has been reassigned by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley AyorkorBotchwey, to serve as the permanent Director of Passports.

Accra-based Asaase Radio reported that the appointment took effect on Monday, August 19, 2024.

The decision for his reassignment was communicated in a letter reportedly from the Ministry, stating, “The honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has decided that you should be re-assigned to the Passport Office as the Director of Passports with effect from Monday, 19th August, 2024. You are, therefore, requested to take steps to undergo the required handing over process to enable you to assume duty.”

As the newly appointed Director of Passports in Ghana, Mr. Kwasi Asante will be entrusted with the overall management and administration of the passport issuance process.

His responsibilities will include overseeing the processing and issuance of passports to eligible Ghanaian citizens. Additionally, he will be tasked with developing and implementing policies and procedures related to passport issuance.

Ensuring that all passport applications meet the necessary criteria and verifying the authenticity of documents submitted by applicants will also fall under his purview.

Another crucial aspect of Mr. Asante’s role will involve working closely with other government agencies, such as immigration and national security, to ensure the effective administration of passports.

He will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with international passport standards and regulations, a duty that is vital for maintaining the integrity of the passport issuance process in Ghana.

Before his reassignment to the Passport Office, Mr. Kwasi Asante served as the Chargé D’affaires at Ghana’s Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a position he had held since May 2024. His diplomatic career at the Embassy in Addis Ababa also saw him serve as the Deputy Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative (DPR) from June 2021 to August 2024.

Prior to his posting in Ethiopia, Mr. Asante worked at the Passport Office as the Director of Operations from April 2020 to June 2021. His experience in the Passport Office is expected to be invaluable in his new role as the Director of Passports. Before his tenure at the Passport Office, Mr. Asante held the position of Executive Assistant at the ECOWAS Commission from June 2018 to April 2020.

Mr. Asante’s diplomatic career has also taken him to the Embassy of Ghana in Tel Aviv, Israel, where he served as Minister-Counsellor and Head of Chancery (HOC) from September 2016 to June 2018. His extensive experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration includes serving as Deputy Director from September 2013 to September 2016.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Asante held the role of Counsellor and Head of Chancery at the Embassy of Ghana in Seoul, Korea, from 2009 to 2013. From 2006 to 2009, he worked as an Assistant Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

His professional journey began at the then Ministry of Economic Planning & Regional Cooperation, where he served as an Assistant Economic Officer from 2001 to 2006.