Alban Bagbin expels Samuel Abu Jinapor over $50,000 passport sale claims

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin ordered the removal of Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, from the legislative chamber following a heated dispute over unsubstantiated allegations. Jinapor had claimed that Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports were being illicitly sold for sums ranging between $10,000 and $50,000. The Speaker’s directive for the MP’s expulsion triggered an immediate walkout by the Minority caucus in solidarity with their colleague, marking another period of significant tension in the house.

The confrontation began when Jinapor made the claims during a parliamentary session, prompting the Speaker to demand that he either substantiate the allegations with evidence or formally withdraw the statement. Majority Leader James Agalga defended the Speaker's action, stating that parliamentary procedures require members to provide proof for such serious claims. Although Jinapor eventually withdrew the comments, reports indicate the withdrawal occurred only after the Speaker had already issued the order for him to be escorted out. NDC member Hamza Suhuyini described Jinapor’s conduct as a high form of disrespect toward the chair, necessitating the disciplinary measure.

In the aftermath of the incident, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin asserted that the caucus would soon present concrete evidence of a "diplomatic passport racket." The Minority accused the Speaker of employing intimidatory tactics and "parliamentary bullying" to silence oversight efforts regarding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. Former MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer also weighed in, criticizing the Speaker’s handling of the situation as inconsistent with previous parliamentary practices where similar allegations were allowed to be debated.

This incident adds to a growing pattern of procedural friction within the current Parliament. A report by the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) recently highlighted that the Minority has frequently used walkouts as a protest tactic, including two instances within a single 24-hour period in July. As Parliament prepares for the 2027 Budget Statement, these ongoing disputes over transparency and discipline continue to impact legislative attendance and the overall political climate in the chamber.