The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has mandated the return of Diplomatic and Service Passports issued during the tenure of the Akufo-Addo administration.

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This directive, issued by the Office of the President, is designed to ensure compliance with the current eligibility criteria and to uphold the integrity of these official travel documents.

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This action follows a directive from President John Mahama, through his Executive Secretary, calling for the retrieval of the passports to guarantee their proper utilization, prevent potential misuse, and safeguard Ghana’s international standing.

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To facilitate this process, the President has instructed the Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to notify the affected passport holders, set a deadline for the return of the documents, and conduct a thorough review of all returned passports.

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A statement from the Ministry, released on Wednesday, January 15, outlined the categories of individuals impacted by this recall. These include former ministers and their spouses, former Members of Parliament across all political parties, and members of the Council of State, along with their spouses.

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The recall also applies to retired justices of both the superior and lower courts, former regional ministers, ex-municipal, metropolitan, and district chief executives, as well as CEOs of state institutions, and members of various government boards.

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Additionally, the directive affects officials connected to the National Cathedral Project, former political ambassadors and their dependents, business leaders, religious figures, traditional authorities, and other former government officials.

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The recall extends to anyone holding an official passport who is no longer actively serving in an official capacity, as defined under Sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).

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Affected individuals are required to return their Diplomatic and Service Passports to the Legal and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs no later than Friday, January 24, 2025. The Ministry stressed that this action is vital to prevent the misuse of these important documents and ensure they are used according to the proper legal frameworks.

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"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs counts on the cooperation of all holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports to undertake this important exercise as directed," the statement added.

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Read the full statement below

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