Passport Director Yahaya Amantana Mahama interdicted over service passport investigation

Director of Passports Yahaya Amantana Mahama has reportedly been interdicted pending investigations into alleged irregularities surrounding the acquisition of a service passport, following a petition submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama, has been interdicted as authorities investigate alleged misconduct involving the acquisition of a service passport and related matters.

Sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development to MyNewsGh.com, which reported that the action followed a petition submitted by a prominent Ghanaian pastor and his wife, whose identities have not been disclosed.

A five-member committee chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant was constituted on October 13, 2026, to investigate the matter. The committee is expected to submit its findings to the sector minister by the close of this week, barring any last-minute changes.

Acting Director appointed

While the investigation is ongoing, Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia has reportedly been assigned to take over as Acting Director of Passports.

The interdiction is intended to allow the investigation to proceed while the allegations are examined. No findings establishing wrongdoing by the Director have been reported.

Development amid parliamentary passport controversy

The development comes amid a heated debate in Parliament over allegations of irregularities in the issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.

On November 3, Damongo MP and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000.

His claims triggered a disagreement in Parliament after Majority Leader James Agalga challenged him to provide evidence. Speaker Alban Bagbin subsequently directed Jinapor to withdraw the allegation or substantiate it, leading to his removal from the chamber and a walkout by Minority MPs.

However, Agalga has maintained that the investigation involving the interdicted official concerns service passports and should not be conflated with the separate allegations about the sale of diplomatic passports.

Calls for independent investigation

Following reports of the interdiction, Jinapor renewed calls for a comprehensive, independent and transparent investigation into the issuance of both diplomatic and service passports.

He said Parliament had a responsibility to establish the facts and ensure accountability wherever wrongdoing is uncovered.

The allegations remain under investigation, and no final findings have been made public.