A fresh political storm has erupted in Ghana’s Parliament, as the Majority has accused the previous Akufo-Addo administration of facilitating an alleged service passport racketeering scheme at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—a practice they claim stretches back to 2023.
The controversy centres on allegations that, in the twilight of its tenure, the former government brought Alhassan Sumani, described as a former “goro boy” (middleman), into the Ministry. The Majority maintains that Sumani’s recruitment on November 29, 2024, was a calculated move to allow him to continue his alleged role in the irregular issuance of service passports.
Speaking to the media, Cletus Dapilah, Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, called on the Minority to approach the ongoing investigation responsibly, rather than politicising the issue. “The NPP is funny. They are funny because you formed a cabal under your watch to perpetuate passport racketeering. 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,” Dapilah alleged.
The situation has drawn increased scrutiny following claims by the Minority that officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office enabled the sale of travel documents to unqualified individuals. According to these allegations, hundreds of Ghanaians may have travelled abroad using service passports obtained unlawfully.
The Ministry’s response was swift. Following a preliminary investigation, the Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani were both interdicted and referred to the Ghana Police Service for possible prosecution. The Ministry clarified that its probe currently focuses on the irregular issuance of service passports, and no evidence has yet emerged implicating the sale of diplomatic passports.
So far, the Ministry has identified and cancelled ten service passports it believes were issued outside proper procedures.
Meanwhile, the Minority’s call for an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate the matter has been rejected by Mr Dapilah. He insists that the committee set up by the Foreign Affairs Ministry is well-equipped to uncover the truth and ensure accountability.
As investigations continue, the allegations have heightened tensions between the Majority and Minority in Parliament, with the nation watching closely to see how the affair unfolds.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com