The Minority in Parliament is demanding an independent parliamentary investigation into allegations of irregular issuance of diplomatic and service passports.
The caucus is arguing that an internal inquiry by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot adequately address allegations involving officials and processes within the same institution.
The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Abu Jinapor, says Parliament must exercise its constitutional oversight responsibility to establish how the alleged irregularities occurred and who should be held accountable.
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Damongo MP questioned the independence of an internal committee reportedly constituted by the Foreign Affairs Minister and chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa.
He argued that the Ministry’s internal investigation cannot take the place of an independent parliamentary inquiry.
“The very people who superintended this rot cannot be the same persons to investigate it,” Jinapor declared.
He further invoked the legal principle ‘nemo judex in causa sua‘, which means no one should be a judge in their own cause.
The Minority also alleged that the internal committee had been instructed not to speak publicly about the matter.
Jinapor said: “For example the committee has been instructed not to speak on this matter at all. That is why till date, we have not seen any publication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaking about this issue.”
He said the circumstances reinforced the need for an investigation beyond the Ministry’s own account of events.
The Minority is therefore preparing a motion for an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate all diplomatic and service passport approvals and issuances from January 7, 2025, up to the date the motion is adopted.
It wants the proposed committee to examine application records, institutional recommendations, approval letters, payment records and electronic communications to establish who processed and authorised the passports.
Among those it wants to appear before the committee are the Foreign Affairs Minister, the Ministry’s Chief Director, the interdicted Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, identified agents and relevant passport and immigration officers.
The proposed committee is also expected to have the power to summon witnesses, examine them under oath and recommend disciplinary action, recovery of funds or criminal investigations where wrongdoing is established.
Jinapor insists that the Ministry’s internal investigation should support, rather than obstruct, Parliament’s work.
“The records and findings of the internal committee of the Ministry should assist Parliament’s work, not become a reason to prevent it,” he said.
He is also appealing to Majority MPs to support the motion, stressing that an investigation should not be interpreted as an acceptance of the allegations.
“Supporting an inquiry does not require anyone to accept the allegations as proven. It requires us to agree that allegations of this seriousness, supported by the material we have presented, deserve a thorough and credible examination,” he said.
The Minority says it will pursue the motion until the facts are established and those found responsible are held accountable.
The proposed parliamentary inquiry is expected to provide an opportunity for the officials and institutions mentioned to respond to the allegations.
Full text: Afenyo-Markin defends Abu Jinapor on diplomatic passport for sale allegation
