The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has traced an alleged passport-for-sale scheme dating back to 2023, uncovering 10 irregularly issued service passports following complaints that individuals paid thousands of dollars to obtain official travel documents for which they were not qualified.
The Director of the Ministry’s Information and Public Affairs Bureau, Francis Gborglah, says the investigation was initiated after petitions alleging that a ministry official collected money from applicants with promises of securing service passports and, in one case, an American visa.
Speaking on Radio Gold, Mr Gborglah explained that the first petition, received on October 8, prompted Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to establish an investigative committee on October 13, 2026.
The Ministry subsequently disclosed that one complainant allegedly paid US$29,000 in 2023, while another claimed to have paid US$5,000 in 2026.
According to Mr Gborglah, the Minister directed the committee to review service passports issued since 2023 to determine whether the required approvals had been obtained.
The exercise identified 10 questionable passports, comprising four issued in 2023 and six in 2026. The Ministry has since cancelled the documents and notified Ghana’s international partners.
Mr Gborglah explained that preliminary investigations pointed to the alleged forgery of the Chief Director’s signature on instructions authorising the issuance of service passports, thereby circumventing the established approval process.
The Ministry has interdicted the Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani, who has been identified as the alleged principal figure in the scheme.
Both officials have been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The Ministry has also indicated that former Director of Passports, Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, who served during part of the period under review, will be investigated.
Mr Gborglah disclosed that two individuals who reportedly used irregularly acquired service passports to travel in 2023 had been identified as part of the investigation.
The revelations come amid growing public scrutiny of Ghana’s passport administration system, following allegations by the Minority in Parliament that diplomatic and service passports were being issued to unqualified individuals in exchange for money.
At a press conference on November 8, the Minority alleged that approximately 300 people had travelled abroad using improperly acquired official passports, including documents allegedly issued under false government designations.
The Ministry, however, maintains that its preliminary investigation has established irregularities involving service passports, with no evidence so far of diplomatic passports being sold.
Mr Gborglah said the internal committee was continuing its examination of records, while the police would determine whether criminal offences had been committed and who should be held responsible.
