Samuel Abu Jinapor defends his call for answers over alleged diplomatic passport sales

Samuel Abu Jinapor says he raised serious concerns in Parliament after allegations emerged that Ghanaian diplomatic passports were being sold for between US$10,000 and US$50,000. The Damongo MP, who is the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, called on the Foreign Affairs Minister to appear before MPs and respond to the claims. In a statement about Tuesday’s sitting, Jinapor said the Majority Leader objected to his intervention. He maintained, however, that allegations already circulating publicly could not simply be ignored, arguing that they raised questions about Ghana’s reputation abroad, the integrity of diplomatic passports and confidence in public institutions. The Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, later directed Jinapor to withdraw his statement. Jinapor said he respected both the Speaker’s office and Bagbin personally, but insisted that this did not remove his parliamentary duty to raise matters he considered important to the country and seek accountability. He also thanked Minority colleagues who, according to him, stood with him and walked out in solidarity after the Speaker directed that he be escorted from the chamber. Jinapor described himself as a disciplined and respectful MP, while stressing that he intended to continue pressing the government on foreign-affairs issues. The post also turned its criticism toward Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, recalling his earlier accusations of extravagance against the former president over a private jet. It suggested that his previous public stance on corruption could be viewed as a form of psychological defence, while referring to allegations now facing him. These are the post’s claims and commentary; it did not provide evidence establishing wrongdoing by the minister. Jinapor ended by saying accountability was non-negotiable. The dispute, as presented in his account, centres on whether the allegations about passport sales should be addressed in Parliament and how MPs can pursue scrutiny while respecting the Speaker’s authority.