Speaker Sacks MP …For Raising Diplomatic Passports Sales Allegations

A vexed Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, yesterday ordered the Marshal to eject from the Chamber Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Member of Parliament for Damongo and Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, after the MP raised allegations concerning the reported sale of diplomatic passports and their issuance to unqualified persons.

Speaker Bagbin expressed dissatisfaction with the allegation and asked Samuel Abu Jinapor either to withdraw it completely or to face an order that it be expunged from the record. He said he would give the MP an opportunity to raise the matter properly once all the necessary facts had been gathered. Until then, however, the MP should withdraw the allegation.

Samuel Abu Jinapor explained that the allegation of the sale of diplomatic passports was already a matter of public discussion and concern and the integrity of Ghana’s diplomatic and service passport regime has come under intense scrutiny. The Damongo MP explained further that the United States Embassy in Accra had even been petitioned on the matter and that, therefore, raising the allegation on the floor for the necessary action to be taken was not wrong.

Speaker Bagbin warned that he was not in the mood to debate the MP and that the allegations should be withdrawn immediately, failing which he would order that they be expunged from the record.

Samuel Abu Jinapor then responded that he was guided by the Speaker’s directions and would do as ordered. The MP then went ahead to withdraw the allegation but repeated it to clarify exactly what he was withdrawing.

While Samuel Abu Jinapor was on his feet withdrawing the allegation, Speaker Bagbin ordered the Marshal to walk him out of the Chamber. As ordered, the Marshal proceeded to carry out the Speaker’s instructions.

Samuel Abu Jinapor, apparently shocked, said he had withdrawn the comments, but the Speaker would have none of it. He firmly ordered the Marshal again to throw the MP out of the Chamber.

Samuel Abu Jinapor, realizing the situation he was in, started to gather his files and documents to leave of his own accord.

At that point, the Minority Leader, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, sprang to his feet to catch the Speaker’s eye. He was ignored. Other leaders of the Minority Caucus were seen on their feet. They were ignored. All members of the Minority Caucus present rose to their feet. They were ignored.

Speaker Bagbin repeated that Samuel Abu Jinapor should leave the Chamber immediately or be flung out.

The entire Minority Caucus followed Samuel Abu Jinapor out of the Chamber.

The Controversy

The argument started with allegations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports are being sold to people who do not qualify for them. The allegations are yet to be proven.

These passports are normally for the President, ministers, MPs, top diplomats, judges, and other senior officials who travel for state business. But the NPP alleges that some people have been getting them after paying between GH¢50,000 and $10,000 to $30,000. The party has not yet proven this claim.

The NPP has pointed out some six persons who, the party insists, were given service passports based on jobs they do not hold. The party says two letters from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs described these people as officials of NADMO and the Fisheries Commission. But according to the NPP, none of the six actually holds those positions. In some cases, the party says, the positions do not even exist.

Accordingly, the NPP has written to the US Embassy in Accra. It wants the Embassy to stop recognising Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025. It also wants the Embassy to check passports more carefully and to refuse diplomatic courtesies to anyone who cannot prove their position. The party has named the six people and given the US Embassy photos of real public officers to help with checks.

The NPP has also asked for a full public list of all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025. And it wants the Auditor-General to carry out an independent audit.

So far, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not publicly responded to the specific claim that the six people do not hold the posts listed. But the government says it has been enforcing the rules.