News:
November 5, 2026
Ghana’s Minority caucus in Parliament has accused the government of allowing diplomatic passports to be sold for between $10,000 and $15,000, alleging fraud and impersonation in the acquisition process through the Foreign Ministry.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the allegations were first raised by the Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, who sought accountability from the Minister for Foreign Affairs over what the caucus describes as “false representations and apparent impersonation in procuring diplomatic passports.”
The Minority claimed that the alleged illicit practice has become common, with fees ranging from $10,000 to $15,000 for diplomatic passports, including the “Arleys Seal,” which was quoted as ranging between $10,000 and $50,000.
“This is a serious concern. A diplomatic passport carries the authority and reputation of the Republic. Any credible indication that it is being obtained through false representations demands scrutiny of the highest seriousness,” Afenyo-Markin said.
The press conference was also convened to address the treatment of the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, whom the Minority says was ordered to leave the chamber despite complying with the Speaker’s directive to withdraw a remark.
The Minority Leader described the sanction against Jinapor as “disproportionate” and “in its effects, an act of parliamentary bullying.”
“His compliance was rewarded by punishment. A request by a member for clarification does not by itself constitute defiance. An express withdrawal in compliance with a speaker’s directive deserves acknowledgement, not punishment,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin stated that the Minority caucus will set out its evidence on the passport allegations through its foreign affairs caucus and called for parliamentary committees to investigate the matter.
“Where should these questions be raised if Parliament becomes inhospitable to them?” he asked, adding that “the authority of Parliament belongs ultimately to the people.”
The Minority Leader also referenced the recent U.S. midterm elections, where American voters stripped the Republican Party of its majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, describing it as “a powerful reminder to every majority” that “the people who give you power can take it away.”
“We therefore respectfully ask that challenges be met with composure, disagreement distinguished from disrespect, and authority exercised with patience,” he said.
The caucus called for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to be heard and for Parliament to perform its duty of oversight.
“Let the minority make its case. Let the evidence be examined. Let the minister be heard. Let Parliament perform its duty, and let the people decide,” Afenyo-Markin said.
The Minority also alleged a pattern of intimidation and harassment against opposition members, citing arrests, detention, and what they described as “on-roads-based conditions.”
“We accept lawful accountability for every citizen, including ourselves. What we resist and will never desist from resisting is the conversion of state power into an instrument of political submission,” he said.
“We shall not be moved. We shall not be cowed. And we surely shall not be silenced.”
Ghanamps.com