Majority accuses Akufo-Addo administration of links to service passport irregularities

The Majority in Parliament has accused the former Akufo-Addo administration of facilitating alleged irregularities in the issuance of Ghanaian Service Passports, claiming the practice dates back to 2023.

The allegations follow a disclosure by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that preliminary investigations had established that 10 Service Passports were irregularly issued to individuals who did not qualify for them, following alleged payments to a syndicate.

The Ministry said the irregularities dated back to 2023.

The Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and Alhassan Sumani have been interdicted and referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.

Vice Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Cletus Dapilah, alleged that the previous administration recruited Alhassan Sumani, whom he described as a former “goro boy”, into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs towards the end of its tenure.

He claimed the recruitment was intended to enable Sumani to continue his alleged involvement in the irregular issuance of Service Passports.

“The NPP is funny. They are funny because you formed a cabal under your watch to perpetuate passport racketeering,” he said.

“Way back in your regime, you had that Alhassan Sumani guy as a goro boy working within Ministry staff. When they were exiting power, they recruited the guy.”

Mr Dapilah said he had documentary evidence of Sumani's recruitment, claiming the appointment letter was dated November 29.

“The guy was recruited on November 29th. That is when he has his appointment letter. I have the appointment letter of the guy on my phone. I can show it to you,” he said.

He further alleged that Sumani had been involved in the passport irregularities since 2023 and that his recruitment into the Ministry towards the end of the previous administration allowed him to maintain influence.

These claims have not been independently established.

The Majority legislator also alleged that the Chief Director's signature on documents used to secure the passports had been forged.

“As for the signature of the Chief Director, I can state categorically clear that it was a false signature, and all of this will be on air by the committee,” he said.

He added that preliminary information available to him in his capacity as Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee suggested that Sumani had forged the signature.

The allegation is yet to be established through the ongoing investigations.

Mr Dapilah urged the Minority Caucus to exercise responsibility in its oversight role, accusing its members of making claims without sufficient evidence.

“The Minority, they should be very responsible opposition. They should be honest and candid with Ghanaians. They should not just think that opposition is throwing anything into the air or into the airwaves or into the populace. That is not responsible opposition,” he said.

He also rejected the Minority's call for an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate the matter, arguing that the committee established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had the mandate and capacity to conduct the inquiry.

The Ministry has clarified that the investigation concerns Service Passports and that no evidence has emerged to suggest Ghana's Diplomatic Passports are being sold.

The Minority has called for a parliamentary inquiry, while the Majority maintains that the Ministry's investigative committee should be allowed to complete its work.

Investigations are ongoing, and the persons named have not been found culpable.