The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana has raised concerns over the issuance of diplomatic and service passports to individuals who do not hold official positions on behalf of the state. According to the party, six individuals were issued with these passports by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs despite not meeting the required criteria. The NPP has written to the US Embassy in Accra, requesting that they suspend recognition of these passports pending a full disclosure and independent audit.
The NPP's letter, dated October 30, was signed by the party's General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong. In the letter, the party cited two letters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which approved service passports for six individuals described as officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation and the Fisheries Commission. However, the NPP claims that none of these individuals hold the positions attributed to them, and in two cases, the positions stated do not exist at all.
The six individuals named by the NPP as beneficiaries of the approvals are Twumasi Francis Kwame, Shaibu Alhassan Abu, Gyabah Anthony, Issah Ayisha, Bennor Yussif, and Adom Emmanuel Kwabena. The party has attached photographs of the actual officers who hold the positions listed, so that the Embassy can compare them against any person presenting a passport issued under the letters. The NPP stated that the officers who actually hold the positions do not appear on the Ministry's lists.
The NPP has requested that the US Embassy suspend the grant of visas, visa waivers, and diplomatic or official recognition to holders of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports issued to persons who do not hold the qualifying positions. The party also requested that applications for any Ghanaian diplomatic or service passport issued on or after January 7, 2025, be subject to enhanced verification directly with the competent Ghanaian authorities.
The NPP's concerns are based on recent incidents that have caused Ghana international embarrassment, including the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container of plastic waste shipped from Ghana, and a series of romance fraud cases prosecuted abroad. The party believes that an independent audit will help to restore the credibility of Ghana's diplomatic and service passports.
The NPP has called on the Government of Ghana to suspend all diplomatic and service passports issued to persons who do not hold the qualifying offices, publish a full list of all such passports issued since January 2025, and commission an independent audit led by the Auditor-General. The party stated that it makes this request with regret and in the national interest, to avoid inconveniencing genuine officials of the State traveling on legitimate business.
The NPP's move is aimed at ensuring that Ghana's diplomatic and service passports are issued and used in accordance with international best practices. The party's request for an independent audit is expected to help restore transparency and accountability in the issuance of these passports, and prevent their misuse by individuals who do not hold official positions on behalf of the state.
Key points
- NPP questions validity of diplomatic and service passports issued to individuals without official state positions.
- Party requests US Embassy to suspend recognition of passports pending audit.
- NPP calls for independent audit and publication of list of passports issued since January 2025.
