The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cancelled 701 diplomatic and service passports because the holders failed to return them as directed.
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, minister for foreign affairs, has ordered his ministry to cancel 701 diplomatic and service passports.
The cancellation takes effect from May 6, 2025, after the holders failed to return them as directed after President John Dramani Mahama took office on January 7, 2025.
Official Press Release The Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
CANCELLATION OF DIPLOMATIC AND SERVICE PASSPORTS
ACCRA, 6TH MAY, 2025 – Further to its Public Announcements of 15th January, 2025 and 10th March, 2025, on the recall of Diplomatic and Service Passports, the 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:
Former Ministers and Spouses
* Former Members of Parliament
* Former Members of the Council of State and Spouses
* Former/Retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts
* Former Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives
* Former Officers of State Institutions, Chairpersons and Members of Boards
* Officials of the National Cathedral Project
* Former Non-Career Ambassadors and Dependents
* Religious and Traditional Leaders
* Businessmen and Entrepreneurs
* Former Government Functionaries and
* All other persons holding official passports not currently serving in any official capacity for the State, or otherwise holding any position that falls under the requirements of sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967(NLCD 155)
The Ministry acknowledges the compliance of 407 holders of Diplomatic and 403 Service Passports, who duly returned their passports in line with the recall directive as of 6th May, 2025.
