Home - Alleged Passport Saga: Jinapor pushes for full-scale probe after Director’s interdiction

The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called for a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into Ghana’s diplomatic and service passport regime following reports that the Director of Passports has been interdicted.

The Damongo MP says the reported interdiction underscores the need for accountability and a comprehensive examination of the processes governing the issuance of the two categories of travel documents.

“These developments reinforce the urgent need for a thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into the entire regime governing the issuance of Diplomatic and Service Passports.

"Any wrongdoing must be uncovered and all persons found culpable must be held accountable, without fear or favour,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday, 5 November.

Describing the matter as one of grave national importance, Jinapor said the integrity of Ghanaian passports and the credibility of the country’s diplomatic institutions were at stake.

He warned that any compromise in the issuance of the documents could undermine Ghana’s international reputation.

“Parliament, as the representative institution of the Ghanaian people, has a sacred constitutional duty to demand answers, ensure accountability, and safeguard the integrity of our Republic. We cannot abdicate that responsibility,” he said.

“The Minority Caucus remains resolute and unwavering in its determination to ensure that Parliament rises to the occasion and discharges this solemn duty to the people of Ghana.”

“We shall pursue every lawful and parliamentary avenue available to us to establish the truth, secure accountability, and protect the reputation and integrity of our country,” he added.

Jinapor further stressed that the matter should not be treated lightly, given its implications for the country’s international standing.

“The integrity of Ghana’s passports, the credibility of our institutions, and the international reputation of our Republic must never be compromised.”

The latest comments follow a heated exchange in Parliament on Tuesday, 3 November, when Jinapor sought to raise allegations of an alleged racket involving Ghanaian diplomatic passports.

The MP told the House that he had evidence suggesting diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000.

“As we speak today, there is evidence, unimpeachable evidence, that today diplomatic passports are being sold, Speaker,” he told Parliament.

Majority Leader James Agalga objected to the allegation, arguing that it amounted to an accusation of criminal conduct that required supporting evidence.

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin subsequently directed Jinapor to withdraw the claim or provide evidence.

The exchanges escalated, resulting in Jinapor being escorted out of the chamber by parliamentary marshals, while the Minority Caucus staged a walkout in protest.

The allegation of the sale of diplomatic passports has not been established by any investigation or court.

Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus has indicated its intention to present evidence to support its allegations of irregularities in the issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic passports.

At a parliamentary press conference on Wednesday, 4 November, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the Foreign Affairs Caucus had obtained material suggesting that some travel documents were allegedly secured through false representations and impersonation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said the material would be made available for public scrutiny to allow its authenticity to be independently assessed and those implicated to respond.

“A diplomatic passport carries the authority and reputation of the Republic. Any credible indication that it is being obtained through false representations demands scrutiny of the highest seriousness,” Afenyo-Markin said.

He called for a parliamentary investigation under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution, insisting that the allegations should be subjected to proper scrutiny.

“Let a mighty Minority make its case and let the evidence be examined and let the minister be heard. Let Parliament perform its duty and let the people decide,” he said.

The Minority’s position follows its walkout after the Speaker’s decision to remove Jinapor from the chamber.

Afenyo-Markin has maintained that Jinapor withdrew his remarks after being directed to do so by the Speaker, arguing that the subsequent decision to order him out was disproportionate.

The Majority has rejected the Minority’s characterisation of the matter.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday night, Agalga reiterated that the allegations brought to the Ministry’s attention concerned service passports and not diplomatic passports.

Separately, an NPP petition dated 30 October, to the United States Embassy in Accra raised related allegations, claiming that six people obtained service passport approvals using inaccurate official job descriptions.