Ghana cancels 10 service passports issued to people who did not qualify — the opposition alleges a far wider sale
Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cancelled 10 service passports after its preliminary investigation found they were issued to people who did not meet the eligibility requirements — four in 2023 and six in 2026 — and has interdicted two officials and referred them to the police. The opposition alleges a far wider operation, saying about 300 people travelled on improperly obtained diplomatic and service passports, and has called for a parliamentary inquiry, which the ministry says it welcomes. The ministry says no evidence has so far established the sale of diplomatic passports. Claims of forged signatures and payments remain allegations under investigation.
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Key points
- The ministry's own finding: 10 service passports went to people who did not qualify — four in 2023, six in 2026. All 10 are cancelled.
- Two officials — the Acting Director of Passports and a Foreign Service officer — are interdicted and referred to the police.
- Forged-signature and payment claims are allegations under investigation, not established findings.
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- The opposition alleges about 300 travellers and a wider sale, and wants a parliamentary inquiry; the ministry says it welcomes one and that no evidence has emerged of diplomatic passports being sold.
What happened
Service passports are for eligible people travelling on official government business, and under some agreements their holders get visa exemptions ordinary travellers do not — which is why foreign governments rely on the issuing ministry to grant them only to people who qualify.
The petitions reached the ministry in October; an internal committee was formed, and its findings led to the interdictions and cancellations announced on 8 November. The two interdicted officials have not been charged, and nothing against them has been tested in court.
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- The ministry's established findings: 10 improperly issued service passports (four from 2023, six from 2026), all cancelled, and two officials interdicted and referred to the police.
- That the opposition alleges a much wider operation and a parliamentary inquiry is being sought, which the ministry says it welcomes.
What we don't know yet
- Whether about 300 people travelled on improper passports, as the opposition alleges — its documents have not been independently authenticated.
- Whether signatures were forged and money was paid, and who would bear criminal responsibility — the police and Special Prosecutor investigations are still running.
- Any response from Minister Ablakwa to the allegation that he knew of the scheme before its exposure — none was in the reporting read.
Claim by claim
Show all claims (5)
Why this label: The cancellations, the 2023/2026 split and the notification to partners are the ministry's own findings in its 8 November announcement, reported in the same terms by Africa Briefing and The Vaultz News.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The interdictions, the police referral and the further investigation are the ministry's own announced actions. They are administrative steps, not findings that either man committed an offence.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The payments and the forgery are allegations: the petitioners' claims and the ministry officer's account of them. The allegedly forged letters have not been released, and no forensic evidence or court finding has been published.
On the ladder: the evidence so far sits low — early, single or social sources. We publish the claim as a claim, never as fact.
Why this label: The 300 figure, the false-designation claim and the allegation against the minister are the opposition's, presented with documents it says support them; the documents have not been independently authenticated, and the ministry says it is still waiting for the opposition's evidence.
On the ladder: the evidence so far sits low — early, single or social sources. We publish the claim as a claim, never as fact.
Why this label: The ministry's welcome of a probe and its 'no evidence' line on diplomatic passports are its own stated positions, reported by The Vaultz News and Africa Briefing; the Special Prosecutor's probe is welcomed in the NPP's own statements.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why it matters
A service passport is the state's word that its holder travels on official business. Ghana's own ministry has now said that word was given to at least 10 people who did not qualify, across two governments — and the argument now is over how much wider it went, and who knew.
Background
Four of the 10 service passports later found to be improper are issued, under the previous administration.
Petitions alleging paid-for service passports reach the Foreign Affairs Ministry; an internal committee is formed and reports.
The ministry announces the 10 cancellations and two interdictions; the opposition holds its press conference alleging a wider operation and seeks a parliamentary inquiry.
Update history
No silent edits. Every change is written here, with its time.
- Latest
Published in Checking state — the ministry's cancellations are confirmed, and the forgery, payment and wider-sale allegations are still under investigation.