Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 10 Illegal Service Passports Cancelled

• Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cancelled ten service passports issued illegally between January 2023 and August 2026.
• The passports were obtained through an illegal syndicate, and international partners have been notified of their revocation.
• The investigation began after two petitions were received on October 8, 2026, leading to the formation of an investigative committee.
• Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and a junior officer, Alhassan Sumani, have been interdicted and referred to police.
• Retired Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, former Director of Passports in 2023, is also under investigation for his role in the irregularities.

The Ministry confirmed on Sunday, November 8, that all ten of the Ghana illegal service passports cancelled have been invalidated.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana has officially revoked ten service passports, which were reportedly acquired through illicit means involving a sophisticated syndicate operating within the nation's passport administration system. These documents, issued between January 2023 and August 2026, were granted to individuals who, according to initial investigations, did not meet the stipulated criteria for obtaining such specialized travel credentials.

The Ministry confirmed on Sunday, November 8, that all ten of the Ghana illegal service passports cancelled have been invalidated. To prevent their continued use, international partners have been duly informed of this decision. Authorities are actively pursuing the beneficiaries of these fraudulent documents, including two individuals who are believed to have traveled internationally in 2023 using these illegally obtained passports.

The comprehensive investigation into this Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs passport fraud commenced following the receipt of two distinct petitions on October 8, 2026. In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa promptly directed the establishment of an investigative committee, which began its work on October 13. This swift action underscores the government's commitment to addressing corruption within its administrative processes.

As a direct result of these inquiries, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, who served as the Acting Director of Passports, has been interdicted. Similarly, Alhassan Sumani, a junior Foreign Service Officer, has also faced interdiction. Both officials have been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation and potential prosecution, indicating the serious nature of the allegations. Furthermore, retired Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, who held the position of Director of Passports in 2023 when some of these irregularities reportedly occurred, is slated for investigation by security services and will face sanctions if found culpable.

The Ministry has acknowledged that the alleged illicit operations of the Ghana passport administration syndicate predated the tenure of the current administration. Despite this, officials have provided assurances to the public that all individuals implicated in this scheme will be held fully accountable for their actions, regardless of when the infractions occurred. This commitment aims to restore public trust and reinforce the integrity of official Ghanaian travel documents.

The widespread Service Passports Ghana revocation highlights critical vulnerabilities within the national passport issuance framework. The ongoing efforts to pursue beneficiaries and prosecute implicated officials demonstrate a concerted push to dismantle corrupt networks and prevent future abuses of the system, ensuring that service passports are exclusively issued to those who genuinely qualify.

Lawyers should advise clients holding Ghanaian service passports to verify their legitimacy, especially if issued between January 2023 and August 2026, to mitigate risks of travel disruption or legal complications due to the ongoing fraud investigation and cancellations. Compliance officers should note the heightened risk of official document fraud originating from Ghana and review due diligence procedures for verifying such documents.

Source: Original reporting via Ernest K. Arhinful