The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana has officially canceled 701 diplomatic and service passports previously issued to former government officials and associates.
This decisive action, effective as of May 6, 2025, follows the failure of these individuals to comply with earlier directives to return their official passports.
In a public announcement, the Ministry stated that despite prior notices issued on January 15 and March 10, 2025, a significant number of passport holders did not adhere to the recall instructions.
Specifically, 341 diplomatic passports and 360 service passports remained unreturned by the deadline. Consequently, these documents have been invalidated and placed on the Stop List, rendering them subject to confiscation at all Ghanaian entry and exit points.
The categories of individuals affected by this cancellation encompass:
-
Former Ministers and their spouses
-
Former Members of Parliament
-
Former Members of the Council of State and their spouses
-
Former and retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts
-
Former Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives
-
Former officers of state institutions, including chairpersons and board members
-
Officials linked to the National Cathedral Project
-
Former Non-Career Ambassadors and their dependents
-
Religious and traditional leaders
-
Businesspeople and entrepreneurs
-
Other former government functionarie
This measure aligns with the government’s commitment to ensuring the proper use and administration of official travel documents, in accordance with national and international standards.
The recall aims to prevent misuse, safeguard the country’s reputation, and maintain the integrity of Ghana’s diplomatic engagements.
The Ministry has acknowledged the compliance of 407 holders of diplomatic passports and 403 holders of service passports who duly returned their documents in line with the recall directive as of May 6, 2025.
All individuals whose passports have been canceled are advised against attempting international travel with these documents, as they will be confiscated upon detection.
The Ministry emphasizes that this action is part of broader efforts to uphold the integrity and credibility of Ghana’s passport system.
