Foreign Affairs Ministry interdicts two officials over alleged illegal sale of Service Passports

The Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Ministry has taken action against two senior officials, Acting Director of Passports Mr Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani, on allegations of involvement in an illegal scheme surrounding the sale of Service Passports. This development followed two petitions, with claims that $29,000 was paid in 2023 and $5,000 in 2026 in exchange for passports.

Sumani was reportedly the mastermind behind the operation, operating as a middleman before joining the Foreign Service in November 2024. Ten irregular Service Passports were identified, issued between 2023 and 2026 to four and six individuals, respectively. All passports have since been cancelled. International partners have been informed of these cancellations, and efforts are ongoing to pursue the affected passport holders.

Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, a retired former Director of Passports who served during the alleged irregularities, will also be investigated by security services. The opposition New Patriotic Party staged a protest in Accra demanding accountability and an independent audit of passport issuance and public fund management. The Ministry emphasized that the scheme predated the current administration, with no evidence of Diplomatic Passport sales.

In response to the allegations, the Ministry outlined reforms to bolster passport administration, including the introduction of chip-embedded passports, new application centers, 24-hour services, free courier delivery, and electronic tracking. The Government has also reduced passport application fees from GH₵500 to GH₵350 despite increased investment in security and technology.