The Minority in Parliament has formally called for an independent parliamentary investigation into what it describes as a major scheme involving the alleged sale and irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports to individuals who were not entitled to hold them.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Ranking Member on the Foreingn Affairs Committee and MP for Damongo, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, announced that the group would file a motion in Parliament seeking the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate allegations that diplomatic and service passports were issued to private individuals on the basis of false official designations and, in some instances, in exchange for payments.
“We owe it to the people of Ghana to ensure that these allegations are properly investigated”, noted Jinapor, maintaining that the integrity of passports issued in the name of the Republic of Ghana’s international reputation are ultimately at stake.
The development comes days after Jinapor was ordered out of the Chamber by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, after attempting to raise similar allegations on the floor of Parliament.
Jinapor had alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000 and called for an investigation. The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bagbin directed him to withdraw the allegation unless he could substantiate it with evidence.
Following a dispute over the directive, the Speaker ordered the Marshall of Parliament to remove him, prompting a walkout by Minority MPs in solidarity.
The passport controversy has been simmering for several weeks following claims by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that some diplomatic and service passports had been issued to persons whose official designations were either inaccurately stated or did not exist.
Under Ghana’s passport laws, diplomatic passports are reserved for specified categories of public officials, including members of government travelling on official business, diplomatic officers and other persons approved by the state for official purposes.
Service passports are similarly intended for public servants undertaking official assignments abroad. The documents carry special privileges, including visa-free access to numerous countries, and are issued under the authority of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The Minority argues that any abuse of that system could undermine the credibility of Ghana’s official travel documents and weaken the confidence foreign governments place in holders of Ghanaian diplomatic credentials.
At Sunday’s press conference, Jinapor further alleged that information available to the center-right group points to a network involving officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office who allegedly operated, directly or indirectly, a travel facilitation arrangement through intermediaries.
According to the Minority, individuals who did not qualify for diplomatic or service passports were allegedly assigned official positions they did not hold in order to secure approval for the documents.
The Minority identified two individuals, Ibrahim Wallee and Bright Yeboah Owusu, as persons allegedly linked to the arrangement and claimed to possess payment records, including bank deposit slips and mobile money transfers, said to be connected to passport acquisition and travel services.
The caucus further claimed that some 300 Ghanaians may have travelled abroad using diplomatic or service passports allegedly procured through the arrangement, though it stressed that a formal investigation would be required to establish the full extent of the claims.
As part of its evidence, the Minority displayed copies of approval letters issued in the name of the Foreign Affairs Minister authorising the issuance of diplomatic and service passports to persons presented as officials of various state institutions.
Among the examples cited was a case involving an individual identified as Amoh Boadi, who allegedly appeared in separate approval letters issued only three days apart under different job titles and institutions.
The Minority questioned how such approvals were granted and whether adequate verification procedures had been followed before authorisation.
Additional approvals involving the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, Akrofuom District Assembly, the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service, the Fisheries Commission and the National Disaster Management Organisation were also referenced.
The Minority claimed its own checks suggested that some of the positions cited either did not exist or were not occupied by the named individuals.
The NPP MPs are, therefore, seeking a comprehensive review of all diplomatic and service passport approvals and issuances from January 7, 2025 onwards. They further want Parliament to examine applications, recommendation letters, approval records, payment trails, communications, and electronic processing records associated with the issuance of the passports.
The proposed inquiry would also summon key officials, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Chief Director of the Ministry, the interdicted Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, immigration personnel, passport officers and beneficiaries of the passports to testify before the committee.
The press conference also addressed reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has constituted an internal committee chaired by Alexander Grant Ntrakwa to investigate matters relating to the acquisition of diplomatic and service passports. The Minority argued that while such an inquiry may be useful, it cannot replace independent parliamentary oversight, particularly where the allegations concern officials and processes within the Ministry itself.
The caucus said Parliament must exercise its constitutional oversight powers to establish the facts, determine whether wrongdoing occurred and recommend appropriate administrative, disciplinary or criminal action where necessary.
