Ghana's Parliament Alleges Akufo-Addo Administration Created Conditions for Passport Racketeering

The Majority in Parliament has accused the previous Akufo-Addo administration of creating conditions that enabled an alleged service passport racketeering scheme at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The practice is said to have started in 2023. According to Vice Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Cletus Dapilah, the former New Patriotic Party government recruited Alhassan Sumani, a former "goro boy", into the Ministry shortly before leaving office in December 2024.

Cletus Dapilah made the allegations in an interview with Citi News, accusing the former administration of establishing a network that facilitated the alleged passport irregularities. He stated that Mr Sumani was recruited on November 29, 2024, barely weeks before the change of government, raising questions about the former administration's intentions. Dapilah expressed concerns about the timing of the appointment and its implications.

The allegations follow revelations by the Foreign Affairs Ministry that preliminary investigations have uncovered 10 service passports allegedly issued irregularly to individuals who did not meet the requirements for obtaining them. The passports were issued between January 2023 and August 2026 through an alleged network operating within the passport administration system. The Ministry received two petitions that triggered the investigation.

One petitioner reportedly alleged paying US$29,000 in 2023 to secure a service passport, while another claimed to have paid US$5,000 in 2026. Following the receipt of the first petition on October 8, 2026, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa directed the establishment of an investigative committee on October 13 to examine the allegations. The committee's findings led to the interdiction of the Acting Director of Passports and a Foreign Service Officer.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commenced investigations, resulting in the interdiction of the Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani. Both officials have also been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution. The Ministry is working to establish the facts surrounding the alleged irregular issuance of service passports.

The Majority in Parliament has called on the Minority Caucus to approach the matter with responsibility and avoid turning the ongoing investigations into a political contest. The allegations have sparked concerns about the integrity of Ghana's passport system and the need for accountability. The Ministry has sought to distinguish between allegations surrounding service passports and claims of diplomatic passport sales.

The Ministry has clarified that its preliminary investigations are focused on the alleged irregular issuance of service passports, stressing that no evidence has so far been established to support claims of diplomatic passport sales. The ongoing investigations aim to uncover the truth and bring those responsible to justice. The case has raised questions about the accountability of the previous administration and the need for reforms in the passport system.

Key points

• The Majority in Parliament accuses the Akufo-Addo administration of creating conditions for alleged service passport racketeering.
• Preliminary investigations uncovered 10 service passports issued irregularly between January 2023 and August 2026.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has interdicted two officials and referred them to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations.