Gov’t initiates recall of diplomatic and service passports issued by previous administration

The Government of Ghana has initiated the recall of all Diplomatic and Service Passports issued under the previous administration.

This directive, issued by the Office of the President, is aimed at ensuring the proper use of official travel documents and aligning passport administration with international standards.

Diplomatic Passports are issuable to Ghanaian diplomats accredited overseas and their eligible dependents, while Service Passports are issuable to officials attached to government institutions who travel on official business.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, outlined the steps required to facilitate the recall.

Holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports are to return these documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for verification. A public notice will be issued to inform affected individuals, who are expected to comply by the deadline of January 24, 2025.

The Ministry will then conduct a thorough review of the returned passports to ensure compliance with current eligibility criteria, reissuing new documents where necessary.

“This initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to safeguarding the credibility and efficiency of the country’s passport system,” Dr. Mahama stated.

To this end, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been urged to act swiftly to complete the exercise, with assurances of support from the Office of the President for any further clarification or assistance required.

In a related development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has affirmed the directive from the Office of the President for the recall of Diplomatic and Service Passports issued under the previous administration.

The ministry listed specific categories of former officials and individuals who no longer hold positions warranting the possession of such passports.

The affected groups include former ministers and their spouses, former members of Parliament, members of the Council of State and their spouses, retired justices of both Superior and Lower Courts, former regional ministers, and metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives.

Also included are chief executive officers of state institutions, chairs and members of boards, officials involved in the National Cathedral Project, former political ambassadors and their dependents, businesspersons, entrepreneurs, religious and traditional leaders, and any other individuals no longer serving in official state capacities.

According to the Ministry, the exercise aims to review all Diplomatic and Service Passports in alignment with the eligibility requirements outlined in sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).

The ministry emphasised that this initiative is intended to prevent misuse and safeguard the integrity of these official travel documents.