Ministry of Foreign Affairs Orders Return of Diplomatic and Service Passports
Government Orders Recall of Diplomatic Passports to Ensure Proper Use and Integrity
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has issued a directive requiring specific individuals
- They are to return Diplomatic and Service Passports that were issued during the tenure of the Akufo-Addo administration.
- The directive also applies to anyone holding official passports but not currently serving in an official capacity
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has issued a directive requiring specific individuals and entities to return Diplomatic and Service Passports that were issued during the tenure of the Akufo-Addo administration.
This action, directed by the Office of the President, aims to ensure adherence to current eligibility criteria and to protect the integrity of these official travel documents.
The directive follows a similar move by President John Mahama, who, through his Executive Secretary, ordered the recall of diplomatic passports. This was deemed necessary to ensure their appropriate use, prevent misuse, and safeguard Ghana’s reputation.
As part of this process, President Mahama has instructed the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify passport holders, set a return deadline, and conduct a thorough review of the documents.
According to a statement released by the Ministry on Wednesday, January 15, the recall affects several categories of individuals, including former ministers and their spouses, former Members of Parliament (MPs) of all political affiliations, members of the Council of State and their spouses, retired justices of both superior and lower courts, former regional ministers, as well as metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives. It also includes chief executive officers of state institutions, along with chairs and members of boards.
Additional groups affected by the recall include 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.
The directive also applies to anyone holding official passports but not currently serving in an official capacity as defined under Sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).
All affected individuals are required to return their Diplomatic and Service Passports to the Legal and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Friday, January 24, 2025.
The Ministry emphasized that this measure is essential to prevent misuse of official travel documents and to maintain the standards associated with their issuance.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs counts on the cooperation of all holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports to complete this important task as directed,” the statement concluded.
