Ghana Minority: Presents Diplomatic Passport Selling Scheme Evidence

• Ghana's Minority in Parliament presented bank and mobile money records as evidence of an alleged scheme selling diplomatic and service passports.
• Payments were reportedly made to Bright Yeboah Owusu, an alleged agent, with Ibrahim Wallee managing the arrangement in Ghana.
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs revoked 10 illegally obtained service passports issued between January 2023 and August 2026.
• The Ministry interdicted Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior officer Alhassan Sumani, referring them to police for investigation.
• These actions followed two petitions received on October 8, 2026, prompting an internal investigation committee.

The Ministry announced the interdiction of Mahama Yahaya Amantana, the Acting Director of Passports, and Alhassan Sumani, a junior Foreign Service Officer.

Ghana's Minority in Parliament has brought forth substantial evidence, including bank deposit receipts and mobile money transaction records, alleging a sophisticated scheme involving the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports. These documents, presented at a press conference on Sunday, November 8, reportedly detail payments made to an agent connected to this illicit operation. The Minority identified Bright Yeboah Owusu as the alleged recipient of these payments, which were purportedly made on behalf of officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office.

The presented evidence includes two GCB Bank cash deposit receipts, dated June 15 and June 24, 2026, alongside various mobile money transaction records, with some payments also occurring on June 24. Individuals who provided these records claimed the transactions were specifically for obtaining diplomatic and service passports, as well as securing promised travel arrangements. The Minority further alleged that this payment system was managed in Ghana by Ibrahim Wallee, with Owusu operating as an agent from Europe. These records are slated for submission to Parliament as part of the Minority's case for a proposed investigation into the Ghana diplomatic passport selling scheme evidence.

Hours before the Minority's press conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement addressing the Ghana passport fraud allegations. The Ministry confirmed it had revoked ten Service Passports, which were allegedly acquired through an illegal arrangement orchestrated by a syndicate operating within the passport administration system. These affected documents had been issued between January 2023 and August 2026 to individuals who, according to preliminary investigations, did not meet the necessary requirements for Service Passports. The Ministry is actively pursuing the beneficiaries, including two individuals who reportedly used these illegally obtained documents to travel abroad in 2023.

The Ministry's internal investigation was initiated following two petitions received on October 8, 2026. This prompted the establishment of an investigative committee on October 13, acting under the direct instructions of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. In a significant development, the Ministry announced the interdiction of Mahama Yahaya Amantana, the Acting Director of Passports, and Alhassan Sumani, a junior Foreign Service Officer. Both individuals have been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation and potential prosecution, underscoring the seriousness of the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigation.

This unfolding situation signals a critical anti-corruption effort within Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Passport Office, bringing heightened scrutiny to the issuance and legitimacy of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports. The Ghana service passport revocation and the interdiction of high-ranking officials like Mahama Yahaya Amantana highlight the government's commitment to addressing the Ghana passport fraud allegations. The evidence presented, including the alleged role of Bright Yeboah Owusu and Ibrahim Wallee in the scheme, suggests a systemic issue that warrants thorough examination.

Legal professionals should advise clients on the increased vigilance surrounding official travel documents, particularly for individuals or entities whose activities rely on such accreditation. The potential for criminal proceedings against implicated officials and beneficiaries means that compliance officers must review internal protocols related to verifying official travel documents and conducting due diligence on individuals holding diplomatic status. This development underscores the imperative for transparency and integrity in the administration of national identification and travel documents.

This development signals a significant anti-corruption investigation within Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Passport Office. Lawyers should advise clients on the heightened scrutiny surrounding the issuance and legitimacy of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports, particularly for individuals or entities whose activities rely on such documentation, and be prepared for potential criminal proceedings against implicated officials and beneficiaries. Compliance officers should review internal protocols related to verifying official travel documents and conducting due diligence on individuals with diplomatic status.

Source: Original reporting via Ghanaian parliamentary sources