10 illegally issued service passports cancelled; 2 officials interdicted

November 10, 2026

2 minutes read

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cancelled 10 service passports allegedly issued illegally to unqualified persons, while two officials have been interdicted over their suspected involvement in the scheme.

The officials are the Acting Director of Passports, Mr Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and a junior Foreign Service Officer, Mr Alhassan Sumani.

They have been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution, following petitions alleging the sale of service passports to persons not entitled to them.

In a statement, the Ministry said the passports were issued between January 2023 and August 2026 and had since been cancelled. International partners had also been notified to prevent their use.

It disclosed that two of the beneficiaries had used the passports to travel in 2023, while efforts were underway to pursue all persons involved.

The investigations followed two petitions, one alleging that US$29,000 was paid to persons involved in the scheme in 2023, and another claiming a payment of US$5,000 in 2026.

The Ministry identified Mr Sumani in the petitions as the alleged principal operator. It said he operated as a “goro boy” in 2023 before joining the Foreign Service.

It also indicated that retired Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, who was Director of Passports in 2023, would be investigated by the security services and sanctioned if found culpable.

The Ministry described the alleged operation as a sophisticated scheme which predated the current administration, saying increased vigilance had helped expose those behind it.

It, however, stressed that there was no evidence so far that Ghana’s Diplomatic Passports were being sold, clarifying that the investigations concerned only Service Passports.

The statement also highlighted reforms introduced under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, including chip-embedded passports compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards, passport application centres in all 16 regions and 24-hour operations.

Other measures included a reduction in the passport application fee from GH¢500 to GH¢350.

The Ministry cited a recent Ghana Statistical Service survey which ranked Passport Administration as the country’s most transformed and least corrupt public institution.

It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, assuring the public that anyone found culpable would be brought to justice.

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