Mr Emmanuel Amoako Yirenkyi, Ashanti Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, has advised the public not to engage the services of unaccredited agents popularly known as "connection men", but must go through the right channel to acquire passports and visas.
He said when such agents failed to deliver it became impossible for his outfit to help, adding that applicants would bear the consequences.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Wednesday, Mr Yirenkyi appealed to applicants to exercise patience whenever there was a delay in the issuing of passports.
He said the Immigration Service in an effort to improve service delivery to the public, would open new branches at Mamponteng, Nsuta, Jacobu, New-Edubiase, Fomena and Kodie in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Yirenkyi disclosed that his outfit would be embarking on a programme in the region to help educate the public on issues of travelling outside the country.
He mentioned accommodation and transportation as some of the challenges they encountered in discharging their duties and called on the Regional Minister to help find a lasting solution to them.