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The Chief Executive Officer of Netpage, Jamal Shallop, has clarified that, contrary to widespread public perception, Sierra Leone’s passport does not cost $100 in actual value.
Speaking during a recent media engagement, Shallop emphasised that no payments for passport processing are received in U.S. dollars. He explained that while many citizens believe the passport fee amounts to $100, currency conversion tells a different story.
“People keep saying the passport is 100 dollars, but I have not actually sold a passport for $100,” he stated. “When you change the money, it never reaches 100 dollars.”
According to Shallop, even with a relatively stable exchange rate over the past two years, the converted value of the passport fee ranges between approximately $91 and $92.
He further reflected on past challenges, noting that five to six years ago, the disparity between the official exchange rate and the parallel market rate was significantly wider. During that period, he said, the value of a passport did not reach between $60 and $70 when converted.
The Netpage CEO disclosed that the situation at the time prompted him to formally communicate with the relevant ministry, expressing concerns about the sustainability of the contract.
“That caused me to write back to the ministry and say I am unable to pay. If I continue, I won’t be able to finance this contract,” Shallop concluded.
