President John Dramani Mahama’s office has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to recall previously issued diplomatic and service passports during the erstwhile administration.
The directive, the presidency noted, was to ensure that such passports are appropriately used in a manner befitting due standards.
“I write to request the recall of Diplomatic and Service Passports issued by the previous administration.
“This exercise allgns with the Government’s commitment to ensuring the proper use and administration of official travel documents by national and international standards. The recall aims to prevent misuse, safeguard the country’s reputation and maintain the integrity of our diplomatic engagements,” the president’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Callistus Mahama wrote in a letter.
Offering guidance on the way ahead, the presidency presented a procedure through which diplomatic and service passports could be issued.
“The Ministry should take the following steps to facilitate the process:
“Issue a Public Notice: Notify all holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports issued by the previous administration to return these documents to the Ministry for verification and re-issuance, where applicable.
“Set a Deadline for Compliance: Specify a reasonable timeline for all concerned Individuals to comply with the recall latest by 24th January, 2025.
“Conduct Verification: Undertake a thorough review of all returned passports to ensure that they align with the current eligibility criteria for issuance,” the letter rolled out.
The Passport Office, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is responsible for the issue of passports and other travel documents to Ghanaians, whose applications have been approved.
Typically, diplomatic and service passports are issued government officials and others who have a special role in foreign service.
