The Liberian government has formally opened twenty new passport application centers around the globe through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The CDC Led-government action, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, aims to give Liberians who are living overseas access to passports. Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, the Liberian foreign minister, revealed that the new facilities work with VFS Global to develop strategies for ensuring that passports are delivered to the doorsteps of every Liberian living abroad, particularly during this crucial election year.
According to Minister Kemayah, the new centers opened simultaneously in the following locations: Atlanta and Houston in the United States; Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario, and Edmonton in Canada; Rio de Janeiro in South America; and Istanbul, Spain, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, France, Italy, South Korea, and Japan in Europe.
He added that new passport application offices had opened in Egypt and Senegal, respectively, on the African continent, and in the United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East. The foreign minister stated that the advantages of the new centers would increase income for the government and people of Liberia for national development and to create easy access for Liberian citizens to passports in regions where Liberia does not have consular centers.
Minister Kemayah said it is the responsibility of the Liberian government to ensure that passport application and processing is brought to the doorstep of every Liberian citizen who needs a passport, whether for travel or other purposes. He was speaking at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs, and Tourism’s MICAT regular press briefing in Monrovia on Thursday, February 23, 2023. It is known that on January 18, 2023, Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, the minister of foreign affairs, opened six extra passport offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, Nairobi, Kenya, Melbourne, Australia, and New Delhi, India.
He emphasized that new regulations for honorary consulate generals were introduced as part of the reform process, noting that all existing honorary consulate generals would resign from their positions and apply in accordance with the new criteria being established by the Ministry. He thanked the government and development partners for their assistance and pledged to expand the process to other nations. He then urged citizens to benefit from the process, adding that it is quick and transparent.
Reported by: Joseph N. Kerkula
Email: jnkerkula@gmail.com
Contact: +231777376826
