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Ghana Cancels 10 Passports Issued Illegally After Applicants Allegedly Paid Up To $29,000, Suspends Two Officials

Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cancelled 10 service passports issued illegally to unqualified individuals and interdicted two officials, including Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani. The move follows a petition alleging a passport-for-sale syndicate operating since 2023. One petitioner claimed paying $29,000 in 2023, another alleged a $5,000 payment in 2026. A retired director is also under investigation. The Minority in Parliament is demanding a probe into the alleged cartel.

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⚡ Key Developments & Real-Time Context
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  • ✓ Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancelled 10 service passports allegedly issued illegally to unqualified persons.
  • ✓ Two officials were interdicted: Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani.
  • ✓ A petitioner claimed to have paid $29,000 in 2023 for a service passport.
  • ✓ Another petitioner alleged paying $5,000 in 2026 to members of the suspected criminal network.
🛡️ Source Corroboration: 8 independent reporting domains (90% confidence) ⏱ Read time: ~2 min

What changed

Ministry confirmed cancellation of 10 passports and interdiction of two named officials following petition exposing alleged payments up to $29,000.

Live updates

  1. Ghana cancels 10 service passports, interdicts two officials in alleged $29,000 scheme

    Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cancelled 10 service passports issued illegally to unqualified individuals and interdicted two officials, including Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani. The move follows a petition alleging a passport-for-sale syndicate operating since 2023. One petitioner claimed paying $29,000 in 2023, another alleged a $5,000 payment in 2026. A retired director is also under investigation. The Minority in Parliament is demanding a probe into the alleged cartel.

    Why it matters

    Service passports grant visa-free travel privileges and are reserved for government officials on state business. Their alleged sale undermines border security and diplomatic credibility. The scandal has drawn parliamentary scrutiny, with the Minority calling for a formal investigation into what they describe as a cartel within the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

    What is confirmed

    • Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancelled 10 service passports allegedly issued illegally to unqualified persons.
    • Two officials were interdicted: Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani.
    • A petitioner claimed to have paid $29,000 in 2023 for a service passport.
    • Another petitioner alleged paying $5,000 in 2026 to members of the suspected criminal network.
    • A retired director is under investigation for alleged involvement in the scheme.
    • The Minority in Parliament has demanded a probe into the alleged passport-for-sale cartel.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Foreign Affairs and Passport Office officials allegedly ran a travel business using diplomatic passports.
    • Viral video purportedly shows Passport Office staff advertising service passports for sale.
    • An ex-presidential staffer shared supposed details on MoMo payments linked to the scandal.

    What to watch next

    • Parliamentary committee launch of formal investigation into the alleged cartel
    • Outcome of ministry probe into retired director's role
    • Potential criminal charges against interdicted officials and passport recipients
    Sources used for this update (16)
    1. saharareporters.com — Sahara Reporters — Breaking news, latest stories, photos ...
    2. Sahara Reporters — Ghana Cancels 10 Passports Issued Illegally After Applicants Allegedly Paid Up To $29,000, Suspends Two Officials
    3. Modern Ghana — Foreign Ministry interdicts two officers, terminates 10 illegally issued Service Passports
    4. GhanaWeb — Abu Jinapor was so disrespectful towards Bagbin in Parliament – Toobu recounts
    5. Asaase Radio — Minority wants Parliament to probe alleged sale of diplomatic, service passports
    6. Modern Ghana — Pastor and wife whose petition sparked service passport scandal revealed
    7. Asaase Radio — Passport-for-sale: Acting passport chief, junior officer interdicted; retired director under probe - Foreign Ministry
    8. CitiNewsroom.com — Passport Fraud: Minority to address alleged cartel, irregularities at Foreign Affairs Ministry
    9. GhanaWeb — $35,800, $29,000: Petitioners expose alleged passport-for-sale scheme
    10. Asaase Radio — Foreign Ministry cancels 10 service passports, investigates alleged $29,000 deal
    11. CitiNewsroom.com — Foreign Affairs, Passport Office officials allegedly ran travel business using diplomatic passports – Jinapor
    12. GhanaWeb — Passport Scandal: Watch viral video of Passport Office staff advertising Service Passport
    confidence 90%
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