Bernard Bediako, the Akwatia MP, has dropped fresh details about an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who has been interdicted over alleged irregularities involving the sale of passports.
The Akwatia MP dismissed the claims linking the ongoing investigation to diplomatic passports, insisting that the case involved service passports instead.
According to him, the employee at the centre of the investigation was recruited in November 2024 and had been interdicted after the alleged misconduct came to light.
The Akwatia MP cautioned against misrepresenting the matter, noting that the distinction between service passports and diplomatic passports was important in understanding the allegations.
Speaking on TV3 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. Bernard Bediako stated, “Let me tell you, the issue at hand, the narrative all over, has nothing to do with a diplomatic [passport]. It has everything to do with a service passport, if they don’t know the difference. It has nothing to do with a diplomatic passport. There is nothing about a diplomatic passport; if they have any evidence, they should say.
“In fact, with the service passport, it is an employee they recruited in November 2024. Because the matter is under investigation, it’s not even fair to the gentleman. Let’s be fair. It’s under investigation. We know, we all know what happened. As we speak, the gentleman is no longer working there. He’s been interdicted,” he said.
The Akwatia MP further defended the Foreign Affairs Minister’s handling of the matter, saying, “There is no issue as we speak now, because the minister acted swiftly. Those who were supposed to be interdicted were interdicted,” he stated.
He further challenged Abu Jinapor to produce evidence backing his claims that diplomatic passports were being sold, maintaining that the allegations being investigated should not be confused with the reported sale of diplomatic travel documents.
The Akwatia MP reiterated that the employee’s alleged involvement concerned service passports and not diplomatic passports.
“This matter, where the gentleman and then some other people were allegedly involved in whatever they did, has nothing to do with diplomatic passports, but rather service passports,” he insisted.
The Akwatia MP disclosure follows concerns raised by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000.
It will be recalled that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, ordered the Damongo Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Abu Jinapor, to leave the Chamber.
The development followed a heated disagreement over claims that Ghanaian diplomatic passports were allegedly being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000.
The confrontation erupted when Jinapor, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, raised concerns about the alleged sale of the passports and called for a parliamentary investigation into the matter.
Abu Jinapor insisted that there was credible evidence to support the allegations, describing it as a serious issue that could undermine Ghana’s international reputation.
However, his remarks drew an objection from the Majority Leader, James Agalga, who argued that the allegation amounted to an accusation of criminal conduct and therefore required evidence to substantiate it.
Agalga urged Bagbin to direct the Damongo MP to withdraw the claim and have the relevant portion expunged from the parliamentary records.
Speaker Bagbin subsequently directed Jinapor to withdraw the allegation, indicating that he could return to the matter with supporting evidence.
The MP, however, appeared reluctant to comply, leading the Speaker to order the Marshal of Parliament to ensure that he left the Chamber.
In a firm warning, Bagbin told Jinapor: “Marshal, please carry out the orders immediately. Honourable Abu Jinapor, please walk out of this place, or you will be taken out.”
Following the directive, Jinapor was seen gathering his books and belongings before leaving the Chamber.
His departure was followed by a walkout by Minority MPs, who left the Chamber in solidarity with their colleague.
Before the disagreement, Jinapor had told Parliament that there was compelling evidence that diplomatic passports were being sold, with prices allegedly ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.
“As we speak today, there is evidence, unimpeachable evidence, that today diplomatic passports are being sold, Mr Speaker,” he told the House.
He described the alleged practice as a matter requiring urgent attention, warning of the possible consequences for Ghana’s image and relations with the international community.
Jinapor also questioned the circumstances surrounding the issuance of diplomatic passports, stressing that the process was governed by law and required strict adherence to established procedures.
“By law, it is only the Minister who has the authority to grant diplomatic passports in our country,” he said.
The incident turned the parliamentary sitting into a tense affair, with the disagreement over the allegations eventually resulting in the Damongo MP’s removal from the Chamber and a solidarity walkout by the Minority.
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