The government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has cautioned the general public against making unsubstantiated allegations on social media that foreigners are acquiring Ghanaian passports.

According to the Ministry, it is investigating the said allegation and would take appropriate measures to deal with the situation if found to be true. It revealed that persons with credible evidence of foreigners in possession of the Ghanaian passport should inform the security agencies or the Ministry for the right steps to be taken.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry indicated that it is worth emphasizing that with the current biometric passport being issued by the Passport Office, applicants undergo rigorous vetting processes which make it difficult for unqualified persons, notably, foreigners, to acquire Ghanaian passport.

“The Ministry however wishes to caution against unfounded claims on social media concerning foreigners acquiring Ghanaian passport. Individuals with credible evidence on foreign nationals in possession of our passport are to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for further action by the law enforcement agencies.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

Acquisition of passports by foreign nationals, an offense

Contained in a statement, the Ministry pointed out that it is an offence under Ghanaian laws for foreign nationals to acquire Ghanaian passports. It highlighted that there have been a number of instances where the ministry, in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service and other law enforcement agencies, have apprehended some individuals for attempting to acquire Ghanaian passports.

“These cases have been successfully prosecuted and appropriate sanctions have been applied to the culprits.”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration

The Ministry assured the general public that it would continue to “adopt relevant measures in the issuance of Ghanaian passport” in order to uphold and protect the integrity of the travel document.

It will be recalled that the Ghana Immigration Service in September last year went on a manhunt for eight Ghanaians who assisted 52 foreign nationals to acquire Ghanaian passports by false declaration.

The matter came after the repatriation of the foreign nationals who acquired genuine documents such as birth certificates, Ghana Cards, and Voter Identification cards with the assistance of Ghanaians. The said documents were presented to the Immigration Service as proof of citizenship for the acquisition of Ghanaian passports.

A member of the Ghana Immigration Service Legal Team, Chief Superintendent Adolf Aboagye-Asenso, touching on the matter then, explained that they declared themselves as Ghanaians and were able to outwit the officials. He indicated that upon interrogation, it was apparent there was “a Ghanaian behind” the act, especially those who “run the café”.

Chief Superintendent Aboagye-Asenso iterated that the Ghanaians who assisted them were mostly those who “run the café and others who take them to the café” to represent them as relatives. He explained that the crime of the Ghanaians involved in the act “is about aiding and abetting”.

He expressed that the non-Ghanaians would be deported after appropriate sanctions were meted out according to Ghana’s immigration laws.

The GIS over time has cautioned non-Ghanaians to desist from obtaining Ghanaian Passport, Birth Certificates, and any other identity document of the country by false declaration while urging all foreign nationals in the country to be law-abiding. It is an offence, punishable by the laws of the country, to indulge in such immigration-related offences.