The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed claims that Ghana’s Diplomatic Passports are being sold, insisting that its ongoing investigations relate exclusively to alleged irregularities in the issuance of Service Passports. In a statement addressing the controversy, the Ministry said preliminary investigations had uncovered no evidence of the illegal sale of Diplomatic Passports, clarifying that the probe centres on Service Passports.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the matters under investigations are about Service Passports and not Diplomatic Passports,” the Ministry stated. The clarification comes after the revocation of 10 Service Passports allegedly issued to individuals who did not meet the required eligibility criteria through a suspected network said to have been operating since 2023.
As part of the investigations, Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani have been interdicted. Two other officers have also been referred to the Ghana Police Service for investigations and possible prosecution.
The Ministry disclosed that the probe followed two petitions alleging the fraudulent issuance of Service Passports. One petitioner claimed to have paid US$29,000 in 2023, while another alleged paying US$5,000 in 2026 to members of the suspected network. It said all 10 passports identified in the preliminary investigations had been revoked, with Ghana’s international partners formally notified of their invalidation.
Security agencies are also pursuing the holders of the cancelled documents, including two individuals who allegedly used the passports to travel abroad in 2023. The Ministry further indicated that the suspected operation predated the current administration, adding that all individuals found to have played a role in the alleged misconduct would be held accountable. It assured the public that the investigations would be conducted transparently and impartially, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding the integrity and credibility of Ghanaian travel documents.
