A dramatic incident unfolded in Ghana's Parliament on November 3, 2026, as Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, was escorted out of the Chamber by a Parliamentary Marshal. The reason behind this extraordinary action was Mr. Jinapor's refusal to promptly withdraw an allegation that Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was involved in the sale of diplomatic passports. This allegation was made during the first sitting of Parliament's Third Meeting of the Second Session.
According to reports, Mr. Jinapor, the Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, claimed that diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000 at the US Embassy. The Majority Leader, James Agalga, objected to this claim, asking Mr. Jinapor to substantiate it or withdraw it. Speaker Alban Bagbin intervened, directing Mr. Jinapor to withdraw the allegation, assuring him that he could raise it again if he came with evidence.
Despite the Speaker's directive, Mr. Jinapor failed to comply promptly, leading to the Speaker ordering the Marshal to escort him out of the Chamber. This action sparked a walkout by the Minority caucus in solidarity with Mr. Jinapor. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin described the Speaker's action as "harsh, high-handed and unfair," arguing that the Majority Leader should have allowed an investigation into the allegations rather than insisting on an immediate withdrawal.
The Minority has been pressing the government for answers over the issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports. The NPP has particularly questioned the issuance of service passports to six individuals whose official positions, it claims, were either inaccurately described or did not qualify them for the documents. The party has petitioned the United States Embassy in Ghana to suspend recognition of the affected passports pending an independent verification of their eligibility.
Earlier on the same day, NPP supporters, led by the party's youth wing, staged a demonstration in Accra dubbed "Yɛgye Yɛ Sika", demanding accountability over the expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa. The protesters questioned the reported GH¢49.72 million spent on the evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians, citing alleged discrepancies in payment records, duplicate entries, and gaps in supporting documents.
The NPP has called for the resignation or dismissal of Mr. Ablakwa, arguing that the allegations surrounding the evacuation expenditure require an independent investigation. The party has also urged the Attorney-General and the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the matter. Mr. Ablakwa has rejected the allegations of financial wrongdoing, maintaining that every evacuee, including minors, received the full GH¢5,500 support package and that no money is missing.
The parliamentary incident adds another dimension to the growing disagreement between the Majority and Minority over the Minister's handling of the evacuation exercise and the diplomatic passport controversy. Mr. Ablakwa has invited the Auditor-General to conduct a comprehensive audit of evacuation exercises since 2017. The incident highlights the deepening divisions within Ghana's Parliament and the need for greater transparency and accountability in the government's handling of public funds and sensitive documents.
Key points
- The incident occurred during the first sitting of Parliament's Third Meeting of the Second Session.
- Mr. Jinapor alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000 at the US Embassy.
- The NPP has petitioned the United States Embassy in Ghana to suspend recognition of the affected passports pending an independent verification of their eligibility.
