Rev. James O. Batsa, Eastern Regional Deputy Communications Hopeful of the NDC, has warned against the growing practice of dismissing government appointees and employees simply because they were recruited under a previous administration.

Speaking on Kessben Maakye show in Accra regarding the recent service passport saga, he said, such political practices are dangerous and could eventually backfire on those currently in opposition.

Rev. Batsa described the situation as an unfortunate practice associated with the NPP, warning that Ghana must be careful about how political transitions are handled.
He also questioned the criteria used by the government in determining who qualifies for a diplomatic passport, citing the decision to offer former NPP National Organiser Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, the eligible person to possess a diplomatic Passport.

Touching on political appointments, he further alleged that the employment of Alhassan Sumani ( goro boy) as junior Foreign Service Officer at the Foreign Affairs Ministry on November 29, 2023, was politically motivated and intended to damage the image of the then-opposition ahead of the 2024 general elections.

He accused the individual of being a staunch, card-bearing member of the NPP.
Rev. Batsa maintained that political decisions must be guided by fairness and national interest rather than partisan considerations.

The Executive Director of Radiant Media and Intelligence Hub,
Emmanuel Duah, has questioned attempts to link former Foreign Affairs Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey’s successor, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to controversies surrounding the alleged sale and issuance of Ghanaian service and diplomatic passports.

Reacting to the controversy on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Duah recalled that Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had previously expressed his willingness to submit records relating to accountability during South Africa’s evacuation exercise to the Auditor-General.
He questioned why concerns over the alleged sale of service passports, which reportedly persisted for years, were only now attracting public attention.

Duah also raised questions about the credentials submitted by Alhassan Sumani who was reportedly appointed in 2023 as Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking who authorised the appointment.

He warned against politicising the controversy to damage political opponents, insisting that accountability must take precedence over partisan interests.
According to him, reports suggesting that 5682 diplomatic passports were issued between 2017 and 2024 raise serious questions about whether all recipients genuinely qualified for them.
“We must all consider the shame that will befall Ghana for issuing diplomatic passports to undeserving people,” he stated.

Duah called for investigations into the issuance of such passports, stressing that anyone found responsible for improperly granting them must be held accountable, regardless of political affiliation.

Lawyer K.K. Serbeh, identified as a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has questioned the government’s handling of diplomatic and service passports allegedly issued under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.

According to him, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government announced on January 14, 2025, that holders of diplomatic and service passports issued under the previous administration were required to surrender them.
He questioned why some individuals reportedly failed to comply with the directive and why authorities have allegedly remained silent despite announcing the cancellation of the passports.

Serbeh further challenged the circumstances surrounding the interdiction of the Director of Passports, arguing that the development raises serious questions about the government’s earlier claims.
“If the passports issued were genuine, why the interdiction of the Director of Passports?” he questioned.

The NPP lawyer also accused individuals who allegedly supported former President John Dramani Mahama’s return to power through falsehoods of remaining silent over controversies involving the current administration.

He insisted that the government must be held accountable for its actions, warning that past records could expose what he described as hidden truths behind current developments.
Serbeh further questioned why the government was raising concerns about alleged fraudulent activities when, according to him, it had previously dismissed certain claims and challenged critics to provide evidence.

He maintained that the NDC government must provide clear answers over the passport controversy rather than remain silent on issues of public concern.
The allegations and criticisms reflect Serbeh’s position and have not been independently verified.

Media Manager Dr Kenneth Ashigbey has questioned the commitment of Ghana’s two major political parties to the growth of independent journalism, arguing that neither the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) nor the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) may welcome a media landscape strong enough to hold politicians accountable.

According to him, politicians are unlikely to willingly support media organisations that can independently scrutinise their actions and challenge those in power without fear or favour.

Dr Ashigbey made the remarks while speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, November 9, 2026, during a discussion on the financial difficulties confronting media organisations and President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement of GH¢10 million in seed funding for the Media Development Fund.

“The politicians would not want independent media to thrive. They both, the NDC and NPP, would not want it to thrive,” he stated.

Financial pressures threatening independent journalism

Dr Ashigbey warned that the financial challenges facing media houses were making it increasingly difficult for journalists to undertake rigorous investigations and produce critical, analytical reports.

He identified the growing dominance of major digital platforms in the advertising market as one of the factors affecting the revenue streams of traditional media organisations.

He said the situation was forcing some media houses to rely more heavily on public relations-driven content instead of investing in independent journalism.

“The tendency for a lot of what I call PR journalism tends to drive what it is that we do rather than the very rigorous, critical, analytical, independent journalism that you can get,” he observed.

He stressed that a financially weak media industry could struggle to perform its constitutional responsibility of holding public officials accountable.

Media needs sustainable funding

The media manager further questioned how the press could effectively serve as the Fourth Estate when it lacked a guaranteed funding arrangement comparable to the public financing available to the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary.

He argued that journalists and media organisations needed adequate financial resources to investigate issues of national importance and speak truth to power.

Dr Ashigbey also pointed to subscription-based funding models adopted by some independent media organisations in other countries, suggesting that Ghana could explore similar approaches to reduce excessive dependence on political and commercial interests.

GH¢10m Media Development Fund not enough

On the proposed GH¢10 million allocation to the Media Development Fund, Dr Ashigbey welcomed the announcement but cautioned that the funding alone would not automatically guarantee the survival of independent journalism.

He called for a sustainable funding framework that would enable credible media organisations to operate independently and support quality reporting.

He also urged citizens to take an active interest in demanding a transparent system that protects the media from political interference and ensures that public support serves the broader national interest.

Dr Ashigbey maintained that the future of independent journalism would require more than political promises, stressing the need for citizens and stakeholders to push for lasting measures that strengthen the media’s ability to hold power accountable.