'Funny' NPP recruited 'goro boy' Alhassan Sumani as Ministry staff to perpetuate passport racketeering since 2023 — Majority

The Majority in Parliament has alleged that the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration played a role in sustaining an irregular service passport issuance arrangement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, claiming the practice dates back to 2023.

The Majority claims that Alhassan Sumani, whom it describes as a former goro boy, was recruited into the Ministry shortly before the Akufo-Addo government left office, allegedly to maintain his involvement in the scheme.

Vice Chairman of Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Cletus Seidu Dapilah, made the allegations in an interview with Citi News, urging the Minority to approach its oversight responsibilities with caution rather than turn the ongoing investigations into a political contest.

Mr Dapilah who is also the Member of Parliament for Jirapa alleged that Sumani was employed on November 29, 2024, shortly before the change of government, in what he suggested was an attempt to preserve his influence within the Ministry.

“The NPP is funny. They are funny because you formed a cabal under your watch to perpetuate passport racketeering.

“Way back in your regime, you had that Alhassan Sumani guy as a goro boy working within Ministry staff…When they were exiting power, they recruited the guy in 2024,” he said.

His comments come amid mounting controversy over claims that Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports were being issued irregularly or sold to individuals who did not qualify for them.

The Minority has accused officials at the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Passport Office of facilitating the alleged transactions, raising concerns that hundreds of Ghanaians may have travelled outside the country using documents obtained through the arrangement.

The allegations have triggered an internal investigation by the Ministry, resulting in the interdiction of Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani.

Both officials have also been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.

The Ministry has clarified that its preliminary inquiry is focused on alleged irregularities in the issuance of service passports, stressing that investigators have not established evidence of the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports.

As part of the investigation, 10 service passports suspected to have been irregularly issued have been identified and cancelled.

Meanwhile, Dapilah has opposed the Minority's demand for Parliament to establish an ad hoc committee to conduct a separate investigation into the matter.

He argued that the investigative committee constituted by the Foreign Affairs Ministry has the necessary mandate and capacity to examine the allegations and establish the facts.