Ghana Foreign Ministry: Denies Diplomatic Passport Sale, Probes Service Passport Fraud

• Ghana's Foreign Ministry denies the sale of diplomatic passports, stating investigations focus solely on service passports.
• Preliminary findings reveal ineligible individuals obtained service passports through a fraud syndicate via illegal payments.
• Ten illegally acquired service passports have been cancelled, and international partners notified of their invalidity.
• Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani have been interdicted and referred to the police.
• The Ministry pledges transparency, impartiality, and fairness in holding all implicated parties accountable.

The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly refuted claims regarding the illicit sale of Ghana diplomatic passports, clarifying that its ongoing investigation is exclusively centered on irregularities involving service passports.

The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has firmly refuted claims regarding the illicit sale of Ghana diplomatic passports, clarifying that its ongoing investigation is exclusively centered on irregularities involving service passports. This official stance, articulated in a statement dated November 8, 2026, emphasizes that no evidence has surfaced to suggest any commercial transactions involving diplomatic travel documents. The Ministry has urged the public to differentiate clearly between these two distinct categories of Ghanaian travel documents.

Preliminary findings from the Ghana service passport investigation indicate that certain individuals, who did not meet the eligibility criteria for service passports, managed to acquire them. This was allegedly facilitated through illegal payments made to a sophisticated Ghana passport fraud syndicate operating within the system. The probe was initiated following two separate petitions, with one individual reporting a payment of US$29,000 in 2023 and another claiming to have paid US$5,000 in 2026 to secure these documents.

In response to the unfolding Ghana Foreign Ministry passport scandal, significant administrative actions have been taken. Ten service passports, identified during the preliminary stages of the investigation as having been illegally obtained, have been officially cancelled. Furthermore, the Ministry has formally notified Ghana’s international partners that these specific documents are no longer valid for travel, aiming to prevent their fraudulent use abroad.

The probe has also led to the interdiction of key officials implicated in the alleged scheme. Mahama Yahaya Amantana, who served as the Acting Director of Passports, and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani have both been relieved of their duties pending further inquiry. Both individuals have been referred to the police for comprehensive investigations into their involvement, signaling a serious commitment to addressing the reported misconduct.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has publicly committed to ensuring that all parties involved in the alleged Ghana passport fraud syndicate are held fully accountable. This pledge underscores a commitment to upholding the integrity of Ghana's travel documents and the public service. The Ministry has assured stakeholders of a process characterized by transparency, impartiality, and fairness as the investigations continue.

The ongoing pursuit of the beneficiaries of these illegally acquired service passports highlights the Ministry's determination to rectify the situation beyond just administrative actions against its own personnel. This comprehensive approach aims to dismantle the network responsible for the fraud and restore confidence in the passport issuance system.

Lawyers should advise clients holding Ghanaian service passports to verify their legitimacy, especially if obtained through non-standard channels, given the ongoing investigation, cancellation of illegally acquired documents, and interdiction of officials. Compliance officers should note the increased scrutiny on Ghanaian travel documents and potential implications for due diligence in transactions or employment involving individuals with such documents.

Source: Original reporting via Ernest K. Arhinful.