A presidential aide, Dr. Samuel Ayeh, has revealed that a suspect in the alleged passport irregularities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confessed to forging the signature of a former Chief Director to secure Service Passports. The suspect, identified as Wale, made the admission before the committee investigating the matter. Dr. Ayeh stated that the committee has an audio recording of the confession, which will be published in the committee's report expected next week.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disclosed that preliminary investigations identified 10 Service Passports allegedly issued irregularly to individuals who did not qualify for them since 2023. The suspected irregularities involved alleged illegal payments to a syndicate. As a result, the Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and Alhassan Sumani have been interdicted and referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.
According to Dr. Ayeh, the suspect admitted to practising the forgery several times to ensure that the signatures appeared authentic. The suspect also described how letterheads were obtained and used in the alleged scheme. Dr. Ayeh's account places Alhassan Sumani at the centre of the alleged process of obtaining the letterheads used in the forgery.
The investigation followed a petition submitted by Augustine Anare Amuah on October 8, 2026, concerning an arrangement with Alhassan Sumani to secure a Service Passport in 2023, which Mr. Amuah said had not been fulfilled. The Minority has called for a parliamentary inquiry, while the Majority has maintained that the Ministry's investigative committee should be allowed to complete its work.
Dr. Ayeh defended the Minister's handling of the matter, saying Mr. Ablakwa acted promptly after receiving the petition on October 8, 2026. A committee was constituted the following day, October 9, and began hearing from witnesses by October 13. Dr. Ayeh said the committee's report would provide further details about the alleged scheme.
The claims of a confession and the alleged roles of individuals involved remain subject to verification and the ongoing investigations. The committee's report is expected to provide more information on the alleged scheme and the individuals involved.
The passport scandal has sparked controversy, with the NPP petitioning the US to suspend privileges for Ghanaian diplomatic and service passport holders. The Minority staged a walkout in Parliament over the issue, and the NPP announced a protest over the South Africa evacuation and passport controversies.
Key points
- A suspect in Ghana's passport scandal has admitted to forging a signature to secure Service Passports.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has identified 10 Service Passports allegedly issued irregularly to individuals who did not qualify for them since 2023.
- The committee's report on the alleged scheme is expected to be published next week.
