The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has interdicted two officers over their alleged involvement in a criminal network accused of illegally selling Ghanaian Service Passports to unqualified individuals.
The officers are Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and a junior Foreign Service Officer, Alhassan Sumani (FSO A5). Both have been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.
The interdictions follow two separate petitions alleging that illegal payments of US$29,000 in 2023 and US$5,000 in 2026 were made to secure the restricted Ghanaian travel documents.
An investigative committee established by the Foreign Affairs Minister on October 13, 2026, five days after the first petition was received, uncovered evidence that ten individuals who did not qualify for Service Passports had allegedly paid illicit fees to obtain the documents between 2023 and 2026.
Ten Fraudulently Issued Ghanaian Service Passports Revoked
Following the committee’s findings, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially cancelled all ten Service Passports identified as having been illegally issued.
The Ministry has also notified its international partners that the affected travel documents are no longer valid and cannot be used for international travel.
Security agencies are currently pursuing the individuals who obtained the fraudulent passports, including two recipients who reportedly used the documents to travel outside Ghana in 2023.
In its official statement, the Ministry confirmed that the two interdicted officers had been handed over to the Ghana Police Service to assist with investigations and possible criminal prosecution.
The government says the measures are intended to prevent further abuse of Ghana’s passport issuance system and protect the credibility of the country’s official travel documents.
Former Director of Passports Also Under Investigation
Investigations into the alleged Ghana Service Passport scandal are being extended to retired Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, a former Director of Passports who was in charge of the department during the period under review in 2023.
The Ministry has also released historical figures showing the number of Service and Diplomatic Passports issued over different periods.
According to the official records, a total of 1,397 Service Passports were issued between 2009 and 2016, while 3,174 were issued between 2017 and 2024. From 2025 to the latest reporting period, another 754 Service Passports had been issued.
For Diplomatic Passports, the figures stood at 2,899 between 2009 and 2016, 5,682 between 2017 and 2024, and 1,944 from 2025 to date.
Foreign Affairs Ministry Denies Sale of Diplomatic Passports
Amid concerns about the alleged passport-selling operation, the Ministry has clarified that the investigation concerns only Service Passports and has not uncovered evidence of the illegal sale of Ghanaian Diplomatic Passports.
The Ministry stressed that the alleged criminal activities should not be interpreted as evidence that the country’s diplomatic travel documents have been compromised.
It maintained that the distinction between Service Passports and Diplomatic Passports was important to prevent misinformation and unnecessary public concern.
Government Vows Accountability Over Ghana Passport Scandal
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commended its internal monitoring and oversight systems for helping to uncover the alleged passport syndicate.
It has also pledged to introduce stricter measures and policy reforms to strengthen passport administration, prevent corruption and protect the integrity of Ghana’s travel documentation system.
The Ministry further assured the public that everyone found culpable would be held accountable, regardless of their position or previous involvement in the passport administration system.
It reiterated its commitment to transparency, impartial investigations and accountability, insisting that those responsible for undermining the credibility of Ghanaian Service Passports would face the full consequences of the law.
The ongoing investigation is expected to establish the full extent of the alleged criminal operation and determine the responsibility of all individuals implicated in the scandal.
Source: newsthemegh.com