Abu Jinapor returns with documents on diplomatic passport scandal after Parliament showdown with Bagbin

The Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has returned to the diplomatic passport controversy with what the Minority describes as documentary evidence implicating officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office in an alleged scheme to sell Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports to unqualified individuals. The latest development follows a dramatic confrontation between the Damongo MP and Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, on November 3, 2026, when Abu Jinapor attempted to raise allegations of the sale of diplomatic passports on the floor of Parliament. During the parliamentary proceedings, Abu Jinapor alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000 and called for an investigation into the matter. His claims, however, were challenged by the Majority Leader, James Agalga, who demanded that he substantiate the allegations or withdraw them. Speaker Bagbin subsequently directed the Ranking Member to provide evidence in support of his claims or retract the allegations. The exchanges between the Speaker and Abu Jinapor became increasingly heated, resulting in the Speaker instructing the Parliamentary Marshal to escort the Damongo MP out of the Chamber after he failed to comply promptly with the directive. The incident triggered a walkout by Minority MPs in solidarity with their colleague, with Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin subsequently describing the Speaker's action as harsh and high-handed. The parliamentary confrontation generated considerable public interest, particularly as Abu Jinapor maintained that the allegations were of serious national importance and required parliamentary scrutiny. Five days after the incident, the Ranking Member has returned to the matter, this time presenting a collection of documents which the Minority says substantiate the concerns he had sought to raise in Parliament. At a press conference on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Minority presented copies of official approval letters, bank deposit slips and mobile money transaction records which it claims provide evidence of an organised arrangement through which individuals allegedly paid to acquire diplomatic and service passports using false official designations. The Minority announced that it would file a motion in Parliament on Monday, November 9, seeking the establishment of an Ad Hoc Parliamentary Committee to investigate the alleged irregular issuance and sale of the special passports. Minority alleges organised passport-selling operation According to the Minority, the alleged arrangement involved some officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office, with a travel and tour business allegedly facilitating the process for paying customers seeking to travel abroad, particularly to Europe. The Caucus identified one Ibrahim Wallee as the person allegedly managing the travel and tour business in Ghana, while Bright Yeboah Owusu was identified as his agent based in Europe. It alleged that customers who did not qualify for diplomatic or service passports were assigned fictitious official positions and designations within government institutions to satisfy the requirements for obtaining the documents. The Caucus further claimed that some officials facilitated the movement of the passport holders through the airport to minimise scrutiny by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service. Approval letters raise questions about official designations Presenting what it described as documentary evidence, the Minority cited several approval letters signed by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, on the authority of the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. One of the documents, dated June 1, 2026, reportedly approved service passports for persons presented as officials of the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council. Among the names was Amoh Boadi, described as Deputy Director of Audit Services. However, the Minority said another letter dated June 4, 2026, seeking approval for diplomatic and service passports for supposed officials of the Akrofuom District Assembly, also listed the same individual, this time as Deputy District Coordinating Director. The Caucus questioned how the same individual could be presented as holding two different positions in two separate public institutions within three days for the purpose of obtaining special passports. It also cited other approval letters dated June 5, August 6 and August 7, 2026, involving supposed officials of the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training Service, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Fisheries Commission. According to the Minority, its independent checks indicated that some of the individuals listed in the documents did not work in the institutions under which they were presented, while some of the official positions attributed to them did not exist. Bank receipts and mobile money transactions presented In what could become a significant aspect of the controversy, the Minority also presented what it described as financial records linking payments to Bright Yeboah Owusu. The documents included GCB Bank cash deposit receipts dated June 15 and June 24, 2026, alongside several mobile money transaction records. The Caucus alleged that the payments were made in connection with the acquisition of diplomatic and service passports and promised travel arrangements. It further claimed that some individuals who paid for the arrangements were eventually left stranded when they attempted to travel, after the officials allegedly expected to facilitate their passage through immigration failed to respond to their calls. The Minority said the development prompted some of the affected individuals to speak out after failing to secure refunds of the money they had paid. Ablakwa's responsibility questioned The Caucus argued that the allegations raise serious questions about the integrity of Ghana's passport issuance system and the responsibility of officials entrusted with the authority to approve the documents. It maintained that under the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155), diplomatic and service passports are reserved for individuals who meet specific official requirements and are not intended to be commercial privileges for individuals willing to pay. The Minority warned that the alleged abuse of the system could undermine Ghana's international credibility, particularly because foreign governments rely on the assurance that holders of the country's diplomatic and service passports are legitimately entitled to them. It also questioned the interdiction of the Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, and other officials, suggesting that the interdicted director could be made a scapegoat while other persons potentially involved escape scrutiny. The Caucus subsequently placed ultimate responsibility on the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, insisting that the Minister must account for the approval and issuance processes undertaken under his authority. Minority rejects Ministry's internal investigation The Minority has also questioned the adequacy and independence of an internal committee reportedly constituted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa to investigate the passport allegations. It argued that an internal investigation cannot replace parliamentary oversight, particularly when the allegations concern officials and administrative processes within the same Ministry. Citing the legal principle nemo judex in causa sua, which means that no one should be a judge in their own cause, the Caucus insisted that Parliament provides a more appropriate platform for an independent examination of the matter. It further raised concerns about alleged restrictions on members of the Ministry's internal committee from speaking publicly about the investigation. The Minority said the Ministry issued its public statement barely two hours before Sunday's press conference, after the event had already been advertised. It maintained that the Ministry's statement did not adequately address the questions raised and rather reinforced the need for an independent parliamentary inquiry. Seeks investigation into all passport issuances since January 2025 Under the proposed motion, the Minority is seeking a comprehensive review of all approvals and issuances of diplomatic and service passports from January 7, 2025, to the date the motion is adopted, including earlier records where necessary. The proposed committee is expected to examine passport applications, institutional recommendations, approval letters, issuance and collection records, payment records and relevant communications. It is also expected to scrutinise electronic records to establish the officials who processed and approved the applications and determine whether any information was subsequently altered. The Minority wants the Foreign Affairs Minister, the Chief Director of the Ministry, the interdicted Director of Passports, the identified agent, relevant passport and immigration officers, as well as individuals who obtained the passports, to appear before the committee. The Caucus is relying on Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution, which empowers parliamentary committees to investigate the activities and administration of ministries and government departments. It said the committee should identify any wrongdoing, establish individual responsibility and recommend appropriate disciplinary, financial or criminal action where necessary. The Minority has appealed to members of the Majority in Parliament to support the motion, stressing that backing an investigation does not amount to accepting the allegations as proven. The latest press conference has renewed attention to the controversy that led to the parliamentary confrontation between Abu Jinapor and Speaker Bagbin, with the Minority insisting that the documents now presented provide a basis for a more comprehensive parliamentary examination. The Caucus says it will continue pursuing the matter until it establishes the facts and secures accountability. Minority Alleges Sale of Diplomatic Passports, Demands Independent Probe Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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