The Majority in Ghana's Parliament has made allegations that the previous New Patriotic Party administration played a role in sustaining an irregular service passport issuance arrangement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This practice is claimed to have started in 2023. According to Vice Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Cletus Seidu Dapilah, the NPP administration recruited Alhassan Sumani, a former goro boy, into the Ministry in November 2024.
Dapilah made these allegations in an interview with Citi News, urging the Minority to approach its oversight responsibilities with caution. He suggested that the NPP's actions were an attempt to preserve Sumani's influence within the Ministry. The allegations come amid mounting controversy over claims that Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports were being issued irregularly or sold to individuals who did not qualify for them.
The Minority has accused officials at the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Passport Office of facilitating the alleged transactions. This has raised concerns that hundreds of Ghanaians may have travelled outside the country using documents obtained through the arrangement. An internal investigation by the Ministry has resulted in the interdiction of 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 has clarified that its preliminary inquiry is focused on alleged irregularities in the issuance of service passports. Investigators have not established evidence of the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports.
As part of the investigation, 10 service passports suspected to have been irregularly issued have been identified and cancelled. Dapilah has opposed the Minority's demand for Parliament to establish an ad hoc committee to conduct a separate investigation into the matter.
He argued that the investigative committee constituted by the Foreign Affairs Ministry has the necessary mandate and capacity to examine the allegations and establish the facts. The controversy has triggered concerns about the integrity of Ghana's passport issuance process.
The allegations have also raised questions about the effectiveness of the Ministry's oversight mechanisms. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the probe continues.
Key points
- The Majority in Parliament alleges that the previous NPP administration perpetuated passport racketeering at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Alhassan Sumani, a former goro boy, was recruited into the Ministry in November 2024.
- An internal investigation has resulted in the interdiction of two officials and the cancellation of 10 service passports.
