Five Minority MPs have filed a private members’ Motion seeking to establish a nine-member ad hoc committee of Parliament to investigate allegations that Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports were sold and issued irregularly.
The proposed committee is expected to investigate claims that diplomatic and service passports were issued to individuals who do not qualify under the law, allegedly through false representations, impersonation, and unauthorised payments to public officials and intermediaries.
The motion, submitted under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and relevant provisions of Parliament’s Standing Orders, seeks a comprehensive inquiry into the approval, issuance, and use of the passports, as well as the handling of complaints and investigations into the alleged irregularities.
The applicants are the Member of Parliament for Damongo and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel A. Jinapor; Bosome Freho MP and Deputy Ranking Member of the committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh; OkaiKwei Central MP Patrick Yaw Boamah; Atiwa West MP Laurette Asante Korkor; and Okere MP Daniel Nana Addo-Kenneth.
According to the substantive motion, concerns have been raised over several letters issued on the authority of the Minister for Foreign Affairs between June and August 2026, approving service passports for individuals described as officials of various public institutions.
These include the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Fisheries Commission, Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, Akrofuom District Assembly and Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service.
The applicants allege that some of the individuals named in the approval letters do not hold the official positions attributed to them.
The motion also identifies five individuals — Wallee Ibrahim, Fosuaa Millicent, Bosompem Richard, Enning Frederick and Asante Rebecca Arthur — as persons allegedly issued diplomatic or service passports despite not being government officials or public servants who qualify under the applicable law.
It further cites accounts from individuals who allegedly paid money through intermediaries for the issuance of diplomatic and service passports, with bank deposit slips and electronic transaction records presented as supporting evidence.
The MPs are also seeking an investigation into reports that approximately 300 Ghanaians are currently in Europe after allegedly travelling on irregularly issued diplomatic and service passports to circumvent applicable visa requirements.
The motion references the reported interdiction of the Director of Passports, Mr Yahaya Amantana Mahama, in connection with the alleged irregular issuance of the travel documents.
If approved by Parliament, the nine-member committee will comprise representatives from both the Majority and Minority caucuses, with consideration given to MPs serving on committees responsible for foreign affairs, constitutional and legal affairs, defence and interior, security and intelligence, and public administration.
The proposed committee would have powers to summon witnesses, examine them under oath, compel the production of documents and electronic records, and receive evidence from the Foreign Affairs Minister, the Chief Director of the Ministry, the interdicted Director of Passports, passport officers, immigration officials, and individuals who allegedly benefited from the passports.
It would also be empowered to engage forensic accountants, digital evidence specialists and other experts, as well as seek cooperation from international immigration authorities.
Among its key terms of reference is a targeted review of all approvals and issuances of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports from January 7, 2025, to the date the motion is adopted, with access to earlier records where necessary.
The committee is expected to establish whether the passports were issued in accordance with the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155), as amended by PNDCL 310, and determine whether public officers or private intermediaries abused their positions for financial gain.
The MPs are proposing that the committee submit its final report within 60 days of its first sitting, although Parliament may grant a single extension of up to 30 days.
The motion further recommends that any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered by the inquiry be referred to the Attorney-General, the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) for further action.
As part of proposed interim measures, the applicants are urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to suspend the issuance of all diplomatic and service passports until the inquiry is completed.
They are also calling for the preservation of all relevant documents and electronic records, the submission of details of passports issued since January 7, 2025, and measures to protect complainants and witnesses from intimidation or interference.
The MPs are additionally urging the President to consider the precautionary suspension of officials with primary responsibility for the passport issuance process to protect the integrity of the investigation.
The proposed committee’s hearings would be held publicly, except where national security considerations or the safety of witnesses require confidentiality, while its final report would be published and made freely available.
The motion argues that irregularities in the issuance of diplomatic and service passports could undermine confidence in Ghana’s travel documents, damage the country’s international standing and affect legitimate official travel.
