Yahaya Amantana Mahama interdicted over $50,000 diplomatic passport claims

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has interdicted the Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, following serious allegations involving the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports for $50,000. The administrative action is intended to facilitate a thorough investigation into claims of irregularities within the passport issuance regime. The move comes after the matter was raised by the Minority in Parliament and supported by a formal petition submitted to the Ministry by a prominent Ghanaian pastor and his wife concerning irregularities in the acquisition of a service passport.

The investigation aims to verify the authenticity of reports suggesting that sensitive travel documents were being traded for exorbitant fees and to determine the potential involvement of other officials in these transactions. While the primary focus is on the alleged $50,000 sales, the probe is also examining the specific circumstances surrounding the service passport mentioned in the clerical petition. The Ministry has signaled its intent to ensure accountability and maintain the integrity of the nation's passport administration processes during the inquiry.

Reacting to the development, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, has urged the government to conduct a full-scale and independent investigation. Jinapor emphasized that the interdiction must lead to a comprehensive review of the entire system for issuing diplomatic and service passports. Similarly, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for greater transparency, requesting that the government publish the identities of all individuals issued such passports since 2025 and the specific criteria used for those approvals.

This high-profile interdiction occurs amid broader calls for civil service reform under the current administration of President John Mahama. As the investigation proceeds, stakeholders are looking for clear signals that the Ministry will address systemic vulnerabilities within the Passport Office to prevent future lapses. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to announce an interim head for the office or provide a definitive timeline for the conclusion of the probe.