The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has released a list of individuals and entities required to return Diplomatic and Service Passports that were issued during the tenure of the Akufo-Addo administration.
This directive, issued by the Office of the President, aims to ensure that these official travel documents are used appropriately and in compliance with current eligibility criteria, as well as to safeguard their integrity.
The move follows President John Mahama’s decision, made through his Executive Secretary, to recall the diplomatic passports in order to verify their proper use, prevent misuse, and protect Ghana’s national integrity.
The President has instructed the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the affected passport holders, set a deadline for the return of the passports, and conduct a thorough review of the documents.
According to a statement from the Ministry on Wednesday, January 15, the recall impacts several groups, including former ministers and their spouses, former Members of Parliament (MPs) regardless of political affiliation, and members of the Council of State and their spouses.
Other individuals affected by the recall include retired justices of both the superior and lower courts, former regional ministers, former metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives, and chief executive officers of state institutions, along with chairs and members of boards.
The directive also applies to officials of the National Cathedral Project, former political ambassadors and their dependents, as well as businesspeople, entrepreneurs, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and other former government functionaries.
Additionally, any individual holding official passports who is not currently serving in an official capacity, as outlined under Sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155), is also required to return their passport.
The Ministry has set a deadline for the return of the Diplomatic and Service Passports to the Legal and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Friday, January 24, 2025.
This measure is aimed at preventing the misuse of official travel documents and maintaining the standards for their issuance.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects the cooperation of all holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports to complete this important task as directed,” the statement concluded.
