Ghana’s Diplomatic and Service Passport Scandal Goes International as BBC Reports Alleged Cartel Charging Up to $50,000

The alleged passport scandal has gone international, with the BBC reporting that opposition lawmakers in Ghana’s Parliament are calling for a full investigation into the alleged sale and irregular issuance of diplomatic and service passports.

According to the BBC Pidgin story, the lawmakers alleged on the floor of plenary that a cartel within the Foreign Ministry is selling the passports for between $10,000 and $50,000.

The Minority in Parliament, led by Samuel Abu Jinapor, claims it has “unimpeachable evidence” that the scheme is operating within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They allege that diplomatic passports are going for $10,000 to $50,000, while service passports are being sold for around $5,000, plus one case of $29,000 in 2023.

The opposition MPs also claim that applicants are given fake government positions, such as “Deputy Director” at an agency to make them qualify, and that a travel agency is facilitating the process.

They allege that about 300 people have used this kind of passport to travel to Europe.

But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has not agreed that it is selling diplomatic passports.

Serious rot
The Ministry confirmed that it found serious rot in the service passport system. It has interdicted the Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, plus a junior officer, Alhassan Sumani.

It also cancelled 10 service passports that were issued illegally and alerted international partners.

The Ministry insists there is “no evidence” to show that diplomatic passports are being sold, and says the scheme started before the current government came in.

Parliamentary motion
The matter has now reached Parliament. The Minority has filed a motion to set up a Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee to investigate everything from January 2025 until now, arguing that the Ministry cannot investigate itself—nemo judex in causa sua.

The Majority Leader, James Agalga, has assured that nobody will be shielded, but he maintains that the evidence so far only concerns service passports, not diplomatic ones.

The main point is this: opposition MPs claim that a cartel is selling both diplomatic and service passports for huge sums of money.

The Ministry admits that the service passport system has fraud, but strongly denies that diplomatic passports are for sale.

The fight has now moved to Parliament to see whether a special committee will investigate the whole matter.