By: Hannah Dadzie
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has today announced the immediate cancellation of hundreds of diplomatic and service passports. This action, effective May 6, 2025, follows previous public announcements on January 15 and March 10, 2025, regarding the recall of these official travel documents.
A statement issued by the Ministry, said the cancellation affects several categories of individuals who are no longer serving in official capacities. These include former Ministers and their spouses, former Members of Parliament, former members of the Council of State and their spouses, retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts, and former Regional Ministers, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives.
The cancellation also extends to former officers of state institutions, chairpersons and members of boards, officials involved in the National Cathedral Project, former non-career ambassadors and their dependents, religious and traditional leaders, businessmen and entrepreneurs, and former government functionaries. The directive encompasses all individuals holding official passports who are not currently serving in an official state capacity or holding a position as outlined in the Passports and Travel Certificates Act of 1967.
The Ministry acknowledged that 407 holders of diplomatic passports and 403 service passports had complied with the recall directive by today’s deadline. However, due to the “failure or refusal” of other holders to return their documents, the Ministry has now cancelled a total of 341 unreturned diplomatic passports and 360 service passports.A list of some of the cancelled diplomatic passport serial numbers has been released by the Ministry. These passports have been placed on a “Stop List” and will be confiscated from anyone attempting to use them for international travel.
This decisive action by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring the appropriate use of diplomatic and service passports. The cancellation aims to prevent unauthorized individuals from utilizing these official documents.
Find Full Statement Below:
