The Minority in Parliament is seeking an independent parliamentary investigation into claims that diplomatic and service passports were issued irregularly.
The caucus says an internal inquiry by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cannot provide an adequate examination because the allegations concern officials and procedures within the same institution.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, said Parliament had a constitutional duty to establish how the alleged irregularities occurred and determine who should be held accountable.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Damongo MP questioned the independence of an internal committee reportedly established by the Foreign Affairs Minister and chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa.
He argued that the ministry’s own investigation could not replace scrutiny by Parliament.
“The very people who superintended this rot cannot be the same persons to investigate it,” Jinapor declared.
He also cited the legal principle nemo judex in causa sua, meaning that nobody should act as a judge in their own case.
The Minority further alleged that the internal committee had been directed not to make public comments on the matter.
“For example the committee has been instructed not to speak on this matter at all. That is why till date, we have not seen any publication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaking about this issue,” Jinapor said.
He said the alleged restrictions strengthened the case for an investigation that went beyond the ministry’s own account.
The Minority is preparing a motion to establish an ad hoc parliamentary committee. It wants the committee to examine every diplomatic and service passport approval and issuance from January 7, 2025, until the date on which the motion is adopted.
Its proposed areas of inquiry include application records, institutional recommendations, approval letters, payment records and electronic communications. The aim would be to identify those who processed and authorised the passports.
The Foreign Affairs Minister, the Ministry’s Chief Director, the interdicted Director of Passports Yahaya Amantana Mahama, identified agents, and relevant passport and immigration officers are among those the Minority wants to appear before the committee.
The proposed body would also be given authority to summon witnesses, question them under oath and recommend disciplinary action, the recovery of funds or criminal investigations if wrongdoing were established.
Jinapor said the ministry’s internal process should contribute to Parliament’s work rather than prevent it.
“The records and findings of the internal committee of the Ministry should assist Parliament’s work, not become a reason to prevent it,” he said.
He appealed to Majority MPs to support the motion, stressing that an inquiry would not amount to accepting the allegations as proven.
“Supporting an inquiry does not require anyone to accept the allegations as proven. It requires us to agree that allegations of this seriousness, supported by the material we have presented, deserve a thorough and credible examination,” he said.
The Minority says it will continue pursuing the motion until the facts are established and those responsible are held accountable. The proposed inquiry would also give the officials and institutions named an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
