The Minority in Parliament has filed a motion, seeking the establishment of a nine-member ad hoc committee to investigate allegations of the sale and irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.
The move is being led by the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, through a private member’s motion.
The proposed committee is expected to investigate reports of diplomatic and service passports being issued to persons who do not qualify under the National Liberation Council Decree (NLCD) 155, as amended by PNDCL 310.
The motion also seeks to establish whether government officials received payments through intermediaries to facilitate the issuance of the passports, as well as allegations that false official designations were used to secure them.
It further proposes investigations into claims that official assistance was provided to help unqualified passport holders travel or circumvent immigration scrutiny.
“Pursuant to Article 103 of the Constitution and Standing Order 262, the Ad Hoc Committee be established to investigate: (a) the alleged sale and irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports; reports of the issuance of diplomatic and service passports to persons who do not qualify to hold same under NLCD 155 as amended by PNDCL 310.
“Allegations of payment to government officials, through intermediaries, for the issuance of diplomatic and service passports; the alleged use of false official designations in procuring those passports,” the Minority said in its motion.
According to the notice of motion, the committee would examine “the applications, representations, approvals, payments and administrative acts connected with the allegations,” alongside institutional arrangements for preventing and addressing irregular issuance.
The proposed inquiry would cover specific transactions brought to the attention of the House, as well as a targeted review of all approvals and issuances of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports from January 7, 2025, to the date the motion is adopted.
The Minority is proposing that the committee comprise nine members drawn from both the Majority and Minority caucuses, with consideration given to the expertise of members serving on relevant parliamentary committees. Enditem
