The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over an alleged passport-for-sale scheme involving officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office, claiming that about 300 Ghanaians have travelled to Europe and other destinations using Diplomatic and Service Passports obtained through the arrangement.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, made the allegation at a media briefing on Sunday, November 8, 2026.
He claimed that officials facilitated the issuance of the travel documents to individuals who were not qualified to obtain them.
According to Abu Jinapor, the alleged operation was run through a travel and tour business, with customers paying money to secure the passports.
The MP fingered one Ibrahim Wallee as the alleged manager of the operation in Ghana, while Bright Yeboah Owusu reportedly served as his agent in Europe.
Abu Jinapor further alleged that applicants were assigned government positions and official designations they did not hold to make them eligible for Diplomatic or Service Passports.
In some instances, Abu Jinapor claimed, the positions given to applicants did not even exist.
He further explained that the documents were marketed as a means of travelling to certain countries without visas, particularly to individuals who might otherwise have difficulty obtaining the required travel authorisation.
The Minority Ranking Member also alleged that some personnel of the Foreign Affairs Ministry assisted travellers at the airport to avoid or minimise scrutiny by officers of the Ghana Immigration Service.
“As at now, our sources indicate that some 300 Ghanaians have travelled to Europe and other destinations using diplomatic and service passports allegedly issued through this arrangement,” he said.
The allegations come on the heels of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handing over two of its officials to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution over their alleged roles in an illegal Service Passport issuance scheme.
The officers are Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and a junior Foreign Service Officer, Alhassan Sumani.
Both have been interdicted as investigations into the alleged irregularities continue.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision to refer the officers to the police followed preliminary findings suggesting that a syndicate had facilitated the acquisition of Service Passports by unqualified individuals in exchange for illegal payments.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified Alhassan Sumani, who joined the Foreign Service on November 29, 2024, as a central figure in the allegations, noting that his name featured in all the petitions received on the matter.
He is also alleged to have operated as a “goro boy” in 2023 before his recruitment into the Foreign Service.
The development stems from two petitions submitted to the Ministry on October 8, 2026, prompting Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to establish a committee five days later to investigate the claims.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also disclosed that retired Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, who served as Director of Passports in 2023 when some of the alleged irregularities occurred, would be investigated by the security services.
The Ministry added that appropriate sanctions would be applied if he is found culpable.
They further reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the matter; the Ministry said everyone found to have participated in the alleged scheme would be held accountable.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs further assured the public that the investigations would be conducted with transparency, impartiality and fairness.
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