The Ghanaian parliament came to a standstill on November 3, 2026, as the entire Minority caucus walked out in protest over the ejection of Damongo MP, Samuel Abu Jinapor. The walkout followed Speaker Alban Bagbin's order to remove Jinapor from the chamber due to unsubstantiated claims about the sale of diplomatic passports. The Minority caucus left in solidarity with Jinapor, bringing proceedings to a halt.
The dispute began when Jinapor alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for $10,000 to $50,000 during a debate on diplomatic passport issuance. The Majority Leader, James Agalga, challenged Jinapor to provide evidence to back the claim or withdraw it from the parliamentary record. Despite initial resistance, Jinapor eventually withdrew the allegation, but Bagbin ruled that his delay warranted sanction, leading to his removal from the chamber.
The Minority caucus's decision to walk out was seen as a show of solidarity with Jinapor. The confrontation adds to a string of clashes between the Majority and Minority over accountability for public officials. This incident occurs at a sensitive moment for Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is pursuing a defamation suit against NPP communicator Benjamin Gyewu-Appiah.
The ejection of Jinapor and the subsequent walkout by the Minority caucus have raised questions about the sale of diplomatic passports. It remains unclear what evidence Jinapor intends to present to support his original claim or whether the Minority will press for a probe into diplomatic passport issuance.
The incident has sparked concerns about the accountability of public officials and the need for transparency in the issuance of diplomatic passports. The Minority caucus's walkout highlights the ongoing tensions between the Majority and Minority in Ghana's parliament.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been at the center of competing controversies lately. He is separately pursuing a defamation suit against Benjamin Gyewu-Appiah and Media General over unrelated claims linking him to the musician Fantana.
The incident has sparked a national conversation about the need for transparency and accountability in Ghana's parliament. The Minority caucus's decision to walk out in solidarity with Jinapor has been seen as a bold move, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing Ghana's democratic institutions.
Key points
- The Minority caucus walked out of parliament in solidarity with MP Abu Jinapor after Speaker Alban Bagbin ordered his removal over unsubstantiated claims about the sale of diplomatic passports.
- The incident has sparked concerns about the accountability of public officials and the need for transparency in the issuance of diplomatic passports.
- Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has been at the center of competing controversies lately.
