In May 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancelled a total of 701 diplomatic and service passports because the holders failed to return them as directed.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January 2025 had directed a recall of all Diplomatic and Service Passports issued during the previous administration under the New Patriotic Party (NPP), specifically naming a broad range of former officials and other individuals required to return their travel documents.
In March 2025, the ministry issued a firm reminder and gave a March 17 deadline.
Following the expiration of the deadline, the ministry cancelled the diplomatic and service passports which had not complied and gave the number as a total of 701.
In announcing the cancellation in a press statement dated May 6, 2025, the ministry explained that, the effective date for cancellation was May 6, 2025.
The cancelled passports were made up of 341 diplomatic and 360 service passports.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that owing to the failure or refusal of the 701 holders to comply with the directive, those passports had been cancelled effective May 6, 2025.
Following that, the ministry published the serial numbers of the said 701 diplomatic and service passports informing the public that they have been cancelled with immediate effect on the instructions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa [See the attached list in the May 6, 2025 publication].
The Ministry also acknowledged the compliance of 407 holders of Diplomatic and 403 Service Passports, who it said duly returned their passports in line with the recall directive as of May 6, 2025.
Related article: See list of 701 diplomatic, service passports cancelled because holders failed to return them
Following the recent allegation of irregular service passport issuance scheme operating illegally, it has emerged that four of the earlier service passports issued in 2023 but cancelled on May 6, 2023 were obtained through the goro boy deals.
It was explained that those passports were identified following the ministry's setting up of a committee on October 13, 2026, on the instructions of the sector Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, after a petition was received five days earlier.
The details of the 10 passports linked to the new allegation per the Ministry's statement mentioned the names and serial number as;
Issued on January 3, 2023
- Richard Sakyi Apenteng (SX004034)
- Augustina Agyei Boateng (SX004032)
- Juliet Amankwa (SX004086)
Issued on February 2, 2023
- Rebecca Agyeiwaa (SX004089)
The other six are;
Issued on May 28, 2026
- Prince Ahensah (SX0604674)
- Maybel Ahensah (SX0604687)
Issued on August 11, 2026
- Twumasi Francis Kwame (SX0605905)
- Gyabaah Anthony (SX0605895)
- Frederick Ennin (SX0605918)
- Bosompem Richard (SX0605921)
Per the names and details put out, it turns out that the four issued in 2023 and cancelled in May 2025 were also linked to the goro boy deals. Attached below is an excerpt from the 701 cancelled in 2025.
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