The Ghanaian government has revoked 701 diplomatic and service passports and confirmed the return of 810 such documents, following a sweeping recall directive targeting passports issued under the previous administration.
The move, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, is part of a broader push to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s diplomatic credentials and curb unauthorized use of official travel documents.
On January 14, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama ordered a nationwide recall of all diplomatic and service passports issued during the Akufo-Addo administration.
The directive, officials said, was rooted in the need to prevent misuse, restore credibility to Ghana’s foreign engagements, and tighten compliance with international protocols.
An initial deadline of January 24 was set for affected individuals to surrender their passports.
However, by March 10, 404 diplomatic and 387 service passports remained unaccounted for, prompting the Ministry to issue a final ultimatum with a new deadline of March 17.
Those who failed to comply were placed on a Stop-Watch List, with their passports rendered invalid and subject to confiscation at all entry and exit points in Ghana.
The Foreign Ministry warned that legal and travel-related sanctions could follow for continued non-compliance.
The recall affected a broad group of former public officials and associates, including former ministers, MPs, and Council of State members (and their spouses), retired judges of the Superior and Lower Courts, former MMDCEs and regional ministers, political ambassadors and their dependents, businesspersons and non-state actors granted official passports and officials linked to the National Cathedral Project
The ministry clarified that only individuals currently holding official roles are eligible to retain such high-security documents.
The cancellation and retrieval exercise, government officials say, is not just administrative, it’s symbolic of a renewed commitment to ethical governance.
By reinforcing who gets to carry a diplomatic passport, the Mahama administration is sending a clear signal that, privilege must align with public responsibility.
The Foreign Ministry continues to urge voluntary compliance as it concludes the audit of all improperly held official passports.
By: J.W Quarm
