Ghana's Minority Party Pushes for Parliamentary Probe into Passport Scandal

The Minority party in Ghana's Parliament is demanding a thorough investigation into allegations that diplomatic and service passports are being sold to private individuals who do not hold official positions. They argue that an internal probe by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is insufficient, as the ministry cannot investigate itself. The Minority party plans to file a motion in Parliament to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to look into the matter, citing Article 103 of the Constitution.

The allegations concern the issuance of passports to individuals who do not occupy official positions on behalf of the state of Ghana. The Minority party presented evidence, including approval letters and payment records, which suggest that some individuals have obtained passports through false representations. They claim that about 300 Ghanaians have traveled to Europe and other destinations using passports allegedly issued through this arrangement. The Minority party is worried that this could undermine confidence in Ghana's official documents and damage the country's reputation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced on Sunday that the ministry has set up an internal committee to investigate the acquisition of diplomatic and service passports. However, the Minority party argues that this committee cannot replace parliamentary oversight. They cited the legal maxim "nemo judex in causa sua" – no one should be a judge in their own cause – to emphasize that the very people accused of superintending the rot cannot be trusted to investigate it.

The Minority party's concerns go beyond who obtained a passport, as they question whether foreign governments can still trust a Ghanaian diplomatic or service passport. These passports are issued in the name and under the authority of the Republic of Ghana, and foreign governments extend courtesy and trust to holders because they rely on Ghana's assurance that they are issued only to persons who qualify and for official purposes. If individuals have paid to be given false official designations to obtain these passports, the Minority party argues that a facility entrusted to the state has been diverted into a private business.

The Minority party presented five approval letters, marked SAJ 1 to SAJ 5, which were signed by the Chief Director, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, between June 1, 2026, and August 7, 2026. These letters approved passports for persons presented as officials of various institutions, including the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council and the Fisheries Commission. However, the Minority party claims that some individuals do not hold the positions attributed to them, while some positions do not even exist.

The Minority party's motion in Parliament will seek a targeted review of all approvals and issuances of diplomatic and service passports from January 7, 2025, to the date the motion is adopted. The proposed committee would have powers to compel witnesses, examine them on oath, require documents, and request examination of witnesses abroad. The Minority party appealed to Majority MPs to support the inquiry, emphasizing that it does not require anyone to accept the allegations as proven but rather to agree that allegations of this seriousness deserve a thorough and credible examination.

Ultimately, the Minority party warned that the image and reputation of the Republic of Ghana are at stake. They stressed that foreign governments must be able to trust that anyone carrying a Ghanaian diplomatic or service passport is entitled to hold it and is traveling for an official purpose. The Minority party's push for a parliamentary probe into the passport scandal highlights the need for transparency and accountability in the issuance of official documents.

Key points

• The Minority party in Ghana's Parliament is demanding a parliamentary investigation into the alleged sale of diplomatic and service passports to private individuals.
• The allegations concern the issuance of passports to individuals who do not occupy official positions on behalf of the state of Ghana.
• The Minority party argues that an internal probe by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is insufficient, as the ministry cannot investigate itself.