Jinapor: Ghana MPs Push For Passport Sales Probe Committee

• Five NPP MPs, led by Samuel Abu Jinapor, have filed a motion to establish a nine-member bipartisan committee to investigate the alleged sale and irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.
• The motion seeks to examine alleged payments, false official designations, and the role of public officers and intermediaries in the passport issuance process.
• The proposed committee would have powers to summon witnesses, examine records, and identify beneficiaries of the alleged irregularities, with a report due within 60 days.
• The MPs are requesting the Foreign Affairs Ministry to suspend the issuance of diplomatic and service passports, though the Ministry's investigation is focused on service passports and has not found evidence of diplomatic passports being sold.
• The inquiry aims to establish facts, allow affected persons to respond, and review passport approvals and issuances from January 7, 2025, onwards.

The potential for investigations into public officials and intermediaries could lead to anti-corruption or fraud charges, impacting individuals and organizations.

Five members of Ghana's New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament, spearheaded by Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor, have filed a motion advocating for the establishment of a nine-member bipartisan committee. This committee's primary objective would be to investigate the alleged sale and irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports. The other NPP MPs supporting this initiative include Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Patrick Yaw Boamah, Laurette Asante Korkor, and Daniel Nana Addo-Kenneth.

The proposed committee would draw its membership from both the Majority and Minority caucuses within Parliament, ensuring a broad and impartial approach. Its mandate would encompass a comprehensive review of all diplomatic and service passport approvals and issuances dating from January 7, 2025, up to the point of the motion's adoption. The motion also allows for the examination of earlier records if deemed relevant to the inquiry. The overarching aim, as stated in the motion, is to "dispassionately and patriotically establish the facts" and afford all affected parties a fair opportunity to address the allegations.

The motion details several serious allegations that the proposed committee would be tasked with investigating. These include claims of payments made to government officials through intermediaries, as well as instances of false official designations where beneficiaries reportedly did not hold the positions attributed to them. To substantiate these claims, the motion cites approval letters issued between June and August 2026, which pertain to individuals identified as officials from various public institutions, including NADMO, the Fisheries Commission, and the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council.

Further supporting the allegations, the motion lists bank deposit slips and electronic transaction records as exhibits. The inquiry would seek to identify who received these alleged payments and determine the ultimate beneficiaries of the irregular passport issuance Ghana. Additionally, the committee would investigate whether official assistance was provided to help unqualified passport holders travel or evade immigration scrutiny. The motion also references reports suggesting that approximately 300 Ghanaians traveled to Europe using irregularly issued diplomatic and service passports, though this remains an allegation within the motion itself.

Should the motion be adopted, the bipartisan parliamentary inquiry Ghana would be endowed with substantial powers to conduct its investigation effectively. The committee would have the authority to summon witnesses, administer oaths during examinations, and demand access to crucial financial records, passport files, and electronic communications. A final report detailing its findings would be due within 60 days of the committee's first sitting, with a provision for a single extension of up to 30 days if necessary.

While the Jinapor Ghana passport sales probe is pending, the NPP MPs have also put forth several immediate recommendations. They are urging the Foreign Affairs Ministry to suspend the issuance of Ghana diplomatic and service passports; however, the Ministry has clarified that its ongoing investigation focuses exclusively on service passports, has cancelled 10 irregularly issued service passports, and has not found evidence of diplomatic passports being sold. Furthermore, they seek the preservation of all relevant records pertinent to the investigation and call for measures to protect witnesses who come forward with information.

This proposed bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into alleged irregular passport issuance Ghana carries significant implications for public accountability and the integrity of the nation's administrative processes. The potential for investigations into public officials and intermediaries could lead to anti-corruption or fraud charges, impacting individuals and organizations. Such a probe, if approved, underscores a commitment to transparency and good governance within the Ghanaian government.

The suggested suspension of Ghana diplomatic service passports issuance signals a potential disruption for clients requiring these documents, necessitating vigilance from legal and compliance professionals. The findings of this inquiry, spearheaded by Samuel Abu Jinapor and other NPP MPs, could expose systemic vulnerabilities within the passport issuance system, potentially leading to broader reforms and a re-evaluation of existing protocols to prevent future abuses.

Lawyers and compliance officers should monitor the outcome of this proposed bipartisan parliamentary probe into alleged passport sales in Ghana, as it could lead to investigations into public officials and intermediaries, potentially exposing clients to anti-corruption or fraud charges. The suggested suspension of diplomatic and service passport issuance also signals a potential disruption for clients requiring these documents.

Source: Original reporting via Myjoyonline.com