The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has officially cancelled a total of 701 Diplomatic and Service passports belonging to individuals no longer holding positions of state authority.
This directive, which took effect on May 6, 2025, follows two earlier public announcements made on January 15 and March 10 this year, in which the Ministry ordered the return of such passports in compliance with the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to announce that, effective today, 6th May 2025, Diplomatic and Service passports issued to the underlisted category of persons have been CANCELLED and are Not Valid for International Travel”
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
In the official statement, the Ministry confirmed that all Diplomatic and Service passports held by former ministers and their spouses, retired justices, ex-members of Parliament and the Council of State, former regional and district officials, former board members of state institutions, and others no longer serving in any official capacity have been declared invalid for international travel.
President John Dramani Mahama’s administration has taken a strong position on the protection of Ghana’s diplomatic image and the proper regulation of state credentials. The Foreign Affairs Ministry’s cancellation directive aligns with a broader effort to reinforce the value and legality of such documents and protect the country’s international standing.
A significant portion of former officials responded to the initial directive. According to the Ministry, 407 Diplomatic passport holders and 403 Service passport holders complied by returning their documents before the May deadline.
However, a combined total of 701 passports, comprising 341 Diplomatic and 360 Service passports, remained unreturned.
“The affected Diplomatic and Service passports have been placed on the Stop-List. They shall be confiscated from any person attempting to travel with the same”
Ministry Of Foreign Affairs
The government’s posture suggests zero tolerance for abuse of privilege, particularly at a time when Ghana seeks to maintain international credibility and ensure that state-sanctioned benefits are restricted to persons duly serving the public interest.
The Ministry’s action also responds to increasing concerns that diplomatic passports were being held and used improperly by individuals no longer serving in official roles.
While not specifying any particular incidents of abuse, the Ministry’s sweeping decision to cancel these documents indicates the seriousness with which the matter is being treated. The affected categories of individuals extend beyond political office holders.
The Ministry’s announcement includes former non-career ambassadors and their dependents, officials tied to the National Cathedral Project, religious and traditional leaders, businessmen, entrepreneurs, and all other former state-affiliated persons not covered under Sections 6 and 7 of the 1967 law.
Critically, the Ministry emphasized that any individual found attempting to use a cancelled passport for travel will be met with full enforcement measures, including seizure of the document.
The placement of these passports on the “Stop-List” ensures that immigration officers will be alerted instantly at all ports of entry and exit.
In the context of recent calls for accountability and good governance, this directive could be seen as a clear message that the Mahama government intends to lead by example when it comes to enforcing laws that have too often been selectively applied in the past.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has not disclosed the identities of individuals who failed to return the passports. However, it did publish the full list of cancelled documents, identified by serial number and confirmed that this will be made available to the relevant border control and foreign missions for effective enforcement.
The Ministry also acknowledged the voluntary compliance of the over 800 former officials who returned their documents without incident, calling it “commendable civic responsibility.”
As the country looks to consolidate governance reforms, this passport recall initiative appears poised to become a cornerstone example of how administrative rigor can be applied without political interference.
It reinforces the principle that no individual, regardless of former status, is above the law.
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