Minority Calls for Diplomatic Passport Probe Over Sales

Minority Demands Diplomatic Passport Probe Over Alleged Sales

The integrity of the travel documents issued by the state has come under intense scrutiny following claims by the Minority in Parliament regarding an illegal trade in high-level credentials. At the center of the controversy is a demand for a diplomatic passport probe into allegations that approximately 300 individuals have illegally acquired and traveled on diplomatic and service passports. These documents, usually reserved for state officials, diplomats, and high-ranking public servants, were reportedly sold to private citizens for significant sums of money.

The opposition caucus asserts that these special passports were issued through a sophisticated “travel-and-tour” network operating within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ghana and the Passport Office. According to the allegations, these unauthorized holders have used the illicitly obtained documents to travel to Europe and other international destinations, potentially compromising the country’s security protocols and international standing.

The Minority’s Evidence and Claims

During a press conference held at Parliament House, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Member of Parliament for Damongo and the Minority’s lead on foreign affairs, presented what he described as “irrefutable documentary evidence” of the scheme. To support the claim of Passport Office corruption, Jinapor displayed redacted passport biodata pages, official approval letters, and financial records. These records reportedly included GCB Bank deposit slips dated June 15 and June 24, 2026, alongside mobile money (MoMo) transaction logs that allegedly trace the flow of payments from “clients” to facilitators within the government structure.

The Minority contends that the price for these documents ranged from US$10,000 to US$50,000 per passport. Jinapor argued that the scale of the operation suggests it was not merely the work of a few “rogue” junior officers, but a systemic failure that allowed 300 unqualified individuals to bypass standard vetting processes. This evidence forms the basis of a formal motion for a bipartisan inquiry intended to uncover the full extent of the Service Passports Ghana breach.

“Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office operated a travel-and-tour network that issued special passports to unqualified paying clients.”

— Samuel Abu Jinapor, MP for Damongo

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Acknowledges Service Passport Breaches

Responding to the mounting pressure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed the situation shortly before the Minority’s briefing. The Ministry admitted to discovering irregularities regarding service passports, resulting in the cancellation of 10 illegally issued documents. Furthermore, two officials have been interdicted and referred to the police for further investigation. The government clarified that its internal probe is focused on a service-passport scheme dating back to 2023.

However, the Ministry has flatly denied the allegations concerning the sale of diplomatic passports. Government representatives maintains that while there were breaches in the issuance of service passports—which are typically granted to government employees traveling on official business—there is currently no evidence to suggest that the more prestigious diplomatic passports have been compromised or sold. The Ministry’s stance is that the Minority’s claims are exaggerated, though they remain committed to rooting out illegal middlemen and corrupt staff within the Passport Office.

Summary of Minority Allegations vs. Ministry Response

Category	Minority Allegations	Ministry of Foreign Affairs Response
Quantity	Approximately 300 individuals	10 service passports identified and cancelled
Passport Type	Both Diplomatic and Service passports	Denies diplomatic sales; confirms service passport breaches
Evidence	Bank slips, MoMo records, and biodata pages	Focused on internal 2023 service-passport scheme probe
Action Taken	Called for a bipartisan Ghana Parliament probe	Interdicted two officers and involved the police
Price Point	US$10,000 to US$50,000 per document	Not explicitly confirmed or refuted

Parliamentary Friction and the Call for a Probe

The demand for a bipartisan inquiry follows a period of heightened political tension. Earlier in the month, Samuel Abu Jinapor was ejected from the parliamentary chamber after initially raising these allegations without providing the full scope of his documentation. At that time, the Speaker ruled that such serious claims required formal evidence to proceed. Having now presented bank slips and transaction records, the Minority intends to file a formal motion to compel a deeper investigation.

There are concerns, however, regarding previous parliamentary delays in similar committee matters. Critics of the delay suggest that an internal ministry probe is insufficient for a matter of this magnitude, arguing that only a transparent parliamentary inquiry can restore public trust. The opposition insists that the executive cannot be relied upon to investigate its own ministries when the allegations involve systemic corruption reaching the upper echelons of the civil service.

The Impact on Ordinary Ghanaians

For the average citizen, the alleged sale of special passports carries significant consequences. When diplomatic and service passports are distributed to those who do not qualify, it devalues the document and raises red flags with foreign embassies and border control agencies. Such scandals can lead to stricter visa requirements and increased scrutiny for all travelers from the nation, regardless of the legitimacy of their documents. Ensuring the sanctity of state credentials is a key pillar of Ghana’s foreign policy integrity.

The integrity of the Passport Office is also a matter of fairness. While thousands of ordinary citizens endure long wait times and rigorous vetting for standard passports, the existence of a “fast-track” illegal market for elite documents creates a two-tier system of citizenship. If a diplomatic passport probe confirms the Minority’s claims, it will necessitate a total overhaul of the issuance software and vetting protocols to prevent future exploitation of the system.