The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially cancelled diplomatic and service passports issued to individuals no longer serving in any official capacity for the country.
The decision, which takes effect immediately, follows earlier public announcements made on January 15 and March 10, 2025, and is aimed at upholding the integrity and proper use of Ghana’s official travel documents.
In a press release issued on Tuesday May 6, 2025, and shared publicly by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Ministry stated that the cancellation affects a broad category of former public officers.
These include former Ministers and their spouses, former Members of Parliament, former Members of the Council of State and their spouses, as well as former and retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts.
It also extends to former Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and former officers of State Institutions, including Chairpersons and Members of Boards.
Officials affiliated with the National Cathedral Project, former non-career Ambassadors and their dependants, religious and traditional leaders, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and other former government functionaries are also affected.
The directive further applies to any other persons holding official passports but not currently serving in any official capacity, or who fall outside the classifications outlined in Sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).
The Ministry acknowledged the cooperation of 407 holders of diplomatic and 403 holders of service passports who complied with the recall and returned their passports before the May 6 deadline.
However, a total of 341 diplomatic and 360 service passports remain unreturned.
These passports have now been declared invalid and have been placed on a stop list, meaning any attempt to use them for international travel will result in confiscation.
The Ministry emphasized that the cancellations were executed under the direct instructions of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and are necessary to prevent the misuse of diplomatic privileges by individuals who are no longer entitled to such benefits.
