The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has issued a stern warning to holders of diplomatic and service passports, urging them to return the documents by March 17, 2025. Failure to comply will result in the cancellation of the passports and the holders being placed on a Stop-List, which will authorize their immediate seizure.
This announcement, issued on March 10, 2025, comes as a follow-up to an earlier directive from President John Dramani Mahama. The President had initially set January 24, 2025, as the deadline for the return of these passports, which were issued during previous administrations.
The Ministry highlighted that the directive applies to a wide range of individuals who no longer hold qualifying public roles, including:
Former Ministers and their spouses,
Former Members of Parliament from all political parties,
Former members of the Council of State and their spouses,
Retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts,
Former Regional Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs),
Former Chairpersons and Board Members of State Institutions,
Officials involved in the National Cathedral Project,
Retired security personnel,
Businesspeople and private individuals previously granted diplomatic passports.
According to the Ministry, all affected persons must return their passports to the Legal and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry before the March 17 deadline.
“This directive is final and non-negotiable. The Ministry will ensure strict compliance to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s diplomatic and service passport system,” the statement read.
The government has faced criticism in recent years over the alleged misuse of diplomatic passports by individuals no longer serving in official capacities. The move to recall these passports is seen as part of broader reforms to tighten regulations and restore public trust in the nation’s diplomatic privileges.
Holders of these passports are being urged to cooperate with the directive to avoid potential embarrassment and legal consequences.
Story by:Mercy Addai Turkson #ahotoronline.com
