The Minority in Parliament claims about 300 Ghanaians have travelled to Europe and other destinations using diplomatic and service passports allegedly obtained through an arrangement involving payments and false government designations.
According to the Minority, the alleged arrangement involved applicants paying intermediaries to secure the special passports despite not meeting the legal requirements for holding them.
The Minority’s Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, alleged that applicants were assigned public service positions they did not hold to facilitate the approval process.
He further claimed that some applicants received assistance from Foreign Affairs Ministry personnel at the airport to avoid or reduce scrutiny by immigration officers.
“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,” Mr Jinapor said at a press conference on Sunday, November 8.
The Minority says it has obtained passport biodata pages, approval letters and payment records, including bank deposit receipts and mobile money transactions allegedly made to an identified agent.
It is calling for a parliamentary investigation to establish how many passports were issued through the alleged arrangement, how many people travelled with them and who authorised the transactions.
The claim comes as the Foreign Affairs Ministry investigates alleged irregular issuance of service passports. The Ministry says 10 service passports have been cancelled and two officers interdicted, but has distinguished its investigation from the Minority’s wider allegations, stating that it has not found evidence of diplomatic passports being sold.
By Noble Crossby Annan
