Ghana's Passport Director Interdicted Amid Passport Sale Scandal; Parliament Promises Thorough Investigation

The Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, has been interdicted pending investigation into allegations of irregularities in the acquisition of service passports. This development comes amid heated debate in Parliament over the alleged sale of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports, with both the ruling and opposition parties calling for accountability.

According to multiple reports, the interdiction stems from a petition submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by a prominent Ghanaian pastor and his wife (names withheld), concerning the acquisition of a service passport and related matters. A five-member committee chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant was established on October 13, 2026 to investigate the matter, and is expected to submit its findings to the sector minister by the end of this week. Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia has reportedly been appointed as Acting Director of Passports pending the investigation outcome.

Parliamentary Confirmation and Controversy

On Friday, November 6, Majority Leader James Agalga confirmed in Parliament that Mahama had been interdicted to facilitate the investigation. He emphasized that no individual implicated in the alleged passport sale would be shielded, stating that the interdiction "demonstrates the government's commitment to transparency and accountability".

The controversy erupted on Tuesday, November 3, when Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, told the House that he possessed "unimpeachable evidence" that diplomatic passports were being sold for between $10,000 and $50,000. Speaker Alban Bagbin directed Jinapor to either withdraw the claim or provide evidence; after Jinapor refused, he was escorted out of the chamber by marshals, and the opposition caucus subsequently staged a walkout in protest. The allegation has not been substantiated by any investigation or court.

Focus on Service Passports

The Majority has stated that the case under investigation by the Ministry involves service passports, not diplomatic passports. Agalga said on JoyNews' PM Express program that the minister acted immediately upon receiving the matter to interdict the relevant official, enabling investigators to carry out their work.

However, the opposition is not backing down. On November 4, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated at a press conference that the Foreign Affairs Caucus had obtained materials suggesting that some travel documents were fraudulently obtained through misrepresentation and impersonation at the Ministry. He promised to make the materials public for independent scrutiny and called for a parliamentary investigation under Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution.

Following reports of the Director's interdiction, Jinapor posted on Facebook on November 5 calling for a "thorough, independent and transparent investigation" into the entire diplomatic and service passport issuance system, warning that any compromise could undermine Ghana's international reputation.

Background Information

Mahama assumed the position of Director of Passports on August 19, 2024. In May 2025, the Ministry stated that the High Court had withdrawn an arrest warrant against him in an unrelated case involving multiple passports issued to the same individual, on the grounds that the issuance occurred before he assumed office.

Separately, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) submitted a petition to the U.S. Embassy in Accra on October 30, alleging that six individuals obtained service passport approvals using inaccurate official job descriptions, and requesting the embassy to strengthen its vetting.

As of publication, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not issued an official statement confirming Mahama's interdiction, and the committee's findings have not been made public.