The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened an investigation into alleged corruption in the irregular issuance of Ghanaian Service Passports, after claims that people who did not qualify obtained the documents through payments inside the passport system.
In a statement on Monday, November 9, 2026, the OSP said it was examining "allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences" arising from the suspected scheme. The probe follows preliminary findings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and petitions that alleged cash payments linked to the documents.
What triggered the OSP case
The Foreign Affairs Ministry identified 10 Service Passports allegedly issued irregularly between January 2023 and August 2026, and received two petitions alleging payments of US$29,000 and US$5,000.
Two serving officers — Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani — have been interdicted and referred to the Ghana Police Service. The Ministry says the conduct of a former Director of Passports during the period under review is also expected to be examined.
GhEcho earlier reported the interdiction confirmation in Parliament; see Passport Director interdicted, Majority Leader Agalga confirms.
What the OSP says it will do
According to Citi Newsroom, the OSP will seek to establish the roles of those involved, trace the alleged payments, examine approval and issuance processes, and determine whether corruption or related offences were committed.
The 10 passports have reportedly been cancelled, and efforts are underway to trace beneficiaries, including people alleged to have used them for international travel. The Ministry says international partners have been notified.
Service passports, not a proven diplomatic sale
The Minority in Parliament has alleged that officials facilitated sales of Diplomatic and Service Passports to unqualified people, and claimed about 300 Ghanaians travelled on such documents. Those wider claims have not been independently verified by GhEcho.
The Ministry has clarified that its preliminary findings concern Service Passports and that, so far, no evidence has emerged that Diplomatic Passports were being sold.
Presumption of innocence
No one named in the reporting has been convicted. The OSP probe, the police referrals and the Ministry's committee are investigative steps, not findings of guilt. Everyone concerned is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a competent court. The OSP has not published a timeline and says it will disclose more where appropriate without compromising the investigation.