I disagree with calls for Ablakwa to step aside over passport saga – Nkrumah Botsio

Legal Practitioner Kwame Nkrumah Botsio has rejected calls for Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to step aside over the alleged irregular issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.

He argued that removing the minister before investigations are completed would be premature, particularly when the allegations involve officials within the Ministry’s passport administration system.

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ AM Show on Monday, November 9, Nkrumah Botsio said responsibility should be determined by the findings of the investigations and those directly implicated should be held accountable.

“I do not agree. If a junior staff commits an offence, probably all these are allegations. These are innocent until proven guilty,” he said.

He questioned the basis for demanding the minister’s removal over alleged misconduct by subordinate officers, arguing that such a position could create a precedent for holding political heads responsible for every alleged offence within their institutions.

Mr Botsio said officials who allegedly received payments or had money transferred into their bank accounts should be the focus of accountability efforts if the allegations are established.

He also defended Mr Ablakwa’s record in public service, describing him as someone who had consistently spoken against corruption and exposed alleged wrongdoing even before becoming a minister.

“I never ever think he would take the risk of being involved in something like this. The implications are too dire,” he added.

His comments come amid investigations into an alleged passport-for-sale scheme within the passport administration system.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said preliminary findings had identified 10 Service Passports allegedly issued between January 2023 and August 2026 to people who did not qualify for them.