The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana has announced the cancellation of diplomatic and service passports issued to certain individuals who are no longer serving in official capacities. This decision, effective May 6, 2025, affects former government officials, including ministers, members of parliament, and judges, among others.
Affected Categories
The following categories of individuals are impacted by this decision:
Former Government Officials
Former Ministers and their spouses
Former Members of Parliament
Former Members of the Council of State and their spouses
Former Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives
Former Judiciary and State Institution Officials
Former/Retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts
Former Officers of State Institutions, Chairpersons, and Members of Boards
Others
Officials of the National Cathedral Project
Former Non-Career Ambassadors and dependents
Religious and Traditional Leaders
Businessmen and Entrepreneurs
Former Government Functionaries
Compliance and Cancellation
As of May 6, 2025, a total of 407 holders of Diplomatic Passports and 403 holders of Service Passports have complied with the recall directive by returning their passports. However, 341 Diplomatic Passports and 360 Service Passports remain unreturned and have been cancelled. The serial numbers of these cancelled passports have been placed on a Stop List, and any attempt to travel with them will result in confiscation.
Implications
This move aims to ensure that official passports are only held by individuals currently serving in official capacities, in accordance with the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized the importance of compliance and has taken steps to enforce the cancellation of non-compliant passports.
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