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The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has launched an investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities in the issuance of Ghanaian Diplomatic and Service Passports.
The investigation centres on claims that individuals who were not eligible for the travel documents obtained them through payments to persons within the passport administration system.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 9, 2026, the OSP said it was investigating “allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences” linked to the suspected scheme.
The probe follows preliminary findings by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which uncovered 10 Service Passports allegedly issued irregularly between January 2023 and August 2026.
The Ministry also received two petitions alleging payments of US$29,000 and US$5,000 in connection with the suspected irregularities.
As part of the initial measures, two serving officers have been interdicted and referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution. The actions of a former Director of Passports during the period under review are also expected to come under scrutiny.
The 10 passports identified in the preliminary findings have reportedly been cancelled, while authorities are working to trace their beneficiaries, including individuals suspected of using the documents for international travel.
According to the OSP, its investigation will focus on establishing the roles of persons involved, tracing the alleged payments, examining the approval and issuance procedures, and determining whether any corruption-related offences were committed.
The investigation follows broader allegations by the Minority in Parliament that officials within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Passport Office facilitated the sale of Diplomatic and Service Passports to persons who did not qualify for them.
The Minority has alleged that approximately 300 Ghanaians travelled outside the country using documents obtained through the suspected arrangement.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, has clarified that its preliminary findings relate specifically to Service Passports, adding that no evidence has so far been established to suggest that Diplomatic Passports were being sold.
The OSP said its investigation would focus on the administration of public processes and the alleged offences, assuring that further updates would be provided “where appropriate and without compromising the investigation”.