The Majority in Parliament has accused the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration of facilitating an alleged service passport racketeering scheme at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claiming the practice dates back to 2023.
Speaking to Citi News, Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Cletus Dapilah, alleged that Alhassan Sumani was recruited into the Ministry on November 29, 2024, shortly before the NPP government left office, to enable him to continue his alleged involvement in the irregular issuance of service passports.
“The NPP is funny because you formed a cabal under your watch to perpetuate passport racketeering,” Mr Dapilah said.
He further alleged that Sumani had previously worked within the Ministry as a “goro boy” before his recruitment.
The comments come amid investigations into allegations of illegal payments and irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.
The Minority has called for a parliamentary ad hoc committee to investigate the matter, but Mr Dapilah rejected the proposal, arguing that the Ministry’s internal committee has the mandate to establish the facts.
The Ministry has interdicted Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani and referred them to the police for further investigations.
It has also clarified that the preliminary investigation concerns service passports, not diplomatic passports, and that 10 documents identified as irregularly issued have been cancelled.
