NPP Leaders Refuse to Return 701 Diplomatic Passports
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ntim, along with the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, and various members of the National Cathedral Secretariat, have declined to hand back the diplomatic and service passports that were provided to them during President Akufo-Addo's tenure.
This development, has compelled the Mahama government to revoke the travel documents.
On May 6, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration announced that they had revoked 701 diplomatic and service passports associated with ex-officials from the prior administration and various other individuals who no longer occupy public positions.
The invalidated passports encompass those granted to past cabinet members and their partners, previous parliamentary representatives, former council state officials and their spouses, along with retired judges from both higher and lower courts.
Those impacted also include past regional administrators, metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives (MMDCEs), ex-chairpersons of boards for government-run entities, as well as people connected to the National Cathedral initiative.
The list similarly encompasses ex non-career ambassadors along with their families, spiritual and customary authorities, businesspeople, as well as an array of other previous governmental nominees.
As per the formal announcement, the revocations include 341 unretrieved diplomatic passports and 360 service passports, rendering them void for global journeys.
"As a result of the holders' non-compliance or unwillingness to follow the guidelines, all 341 undelivered Diplomatic Passports and 360 Service Passports with designated serial numbers have been revoked immediately as per the instruction from the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs. These invalidated passports have been added to the stop list and will be seized should they be shown at any entrance or exit points," the ministry announced.
In a Facebook post, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that the revocations of passports were due to the continued failure of the concerned individuals to comply with President John Mahama’s instruction to surrender their travel documents.
"These passports, which were issued during the prior government, have been placed on a stop list at every border post and Ghanaian embassy overseas. Any attempts to utilize these documents will result in their confiscation," Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He added, "Given that since January, the recipients have persistently declined to follow President Mahama’s instructions, we were left with no alternative but to proceed with this measure. Nonetheless, I would like to express my appreciation to the 407 Diplomatic Passport holders and the 403 Service Passport holders who adhered to the guidelines and surrendered their passports."
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