The Speaker of Parliament, Dr Abass Bundu has ordered the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain the high cost of passports pegged at USSD 100, and also the USSD 25, passengers are paying for moving in and out of the country.
This came after the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon Bashiru Silikie raised concern over the price of passports and move a motion that the Minister of Internal Affairs be summoned to review the contract.
Hon Silikie pointed out that USD100 is too expensive, adding that according to the agreement with NETPAGE, they (NETPAGE) are supposed to produce E-passports, and as such, it was pegged in dollars, the passport is not an E-passport.
“When you use it to travel you face a lot of embarrassment in other countries, so they were not able to surgeon the passport issue which was before five hundred thousand Leones,” he explained.
Dr Abass Bundu said the passport is not machinable, so they have to get it right on the next adjourned date.
He mandated the Chairman of Internal Affairs to pass the message to the Minister of Internal affairs because it is a serious issue.