Alban Bagbin ejects Samuel Abu Jinapor from Parliament over passport claims

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin ordered the removal of Damongo Member of Parliament Samuel Abu Jinapor from the Chamber on November 3, following a heated dispute over allegations involving the sale of diplomatic passports. The confrontation arose during a session where Jinapor claimed that Ghanaian diplomatic passports were being sold for between $10,000 and $50,000. The Speaker directed the MP to provide evidence for the claims or retract them, citing a breach of parliamentary Standing Orders regarding unsubstantiated allegations.

During the debate, Majority Leader James Agalga challenged Jinapor to support his assertions with proof, particularly as the allegations targeted Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. While Jinapor initially insisted he possessed evidence, the situation escalated when he resisted the Speaker’s immediate directive to withdraw the statement. Although Jinapor eventually retracted the allegation, Speaker Bagbin maintained the order for his exit, warning that the Marshal would be directed to remove him by force if he did not leave voluntarily.

In response to the Speaker's decision, the Minority Caucus staged a walkout in solidarity with their colleague. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticized the ejection as "high-handed" and "unfair," arguing that the Speaker’s move suppressed a legitimate issue of public interest. Afenyo-Markin contended that rather than enforcing the MP's removal, the leadership should have allowed for a formal investigation into the claims to ensure transparency and protect the nation’s international reputation.

The incident has further strained relations within the House, occurring alongside broader Minority calls for an independent investigation into Foreign Ministry expenditures. This includes scrutiny of GH‑49.72 million spent on evacuation exercises and the specific criteria used for issuing service and diplomatic passports. While Minister Ablakwa has denied any wrongdoing, the Minority insists that the ejection of Jinapor undermines parliamentary oversight and the pursuit of government accountability.