The interdicted Acting Director of Passports, Mahama Yahaya Amantana, could be exonerated from the alleged fraudulent sale of Service Passports following revelations that a key suspect has confessed to forging official signatures and documents to facilitate the scheme.
Information emerging from the committee investigating the scandal suggests that there is no evidence of Amantana’s signature on the official documents and correspondence used to secure the allegedly illegally issued passports.
A source close to the investigative committee disclosed that the interdicted director was outside Ghana on May 22, June 30 and August 28, 2026, when the diplomatic and Service Passports in question were reportedly requested, approved and issued.
The revelations have raised questions about the basis for linking the Acting Director to the scheme, which reportedly dates back to 2023, during the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The latest development follows an admission by a suspect identified as Walle, who reportedly confessed to forging the signature of a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the acquisition of Service Passports.
Presidential Aide at the Office of the President, Dr Samuel Ayeh, disclosed the confession during an interview on JoyNews on Monday, November 9, 2026.
According to him, the suspect told the committee that he repeatedly practised the former Chief Director’s signature to make the forged documents appear authentic.
“He has confessed to the committee that they actually forged the signature of the chief director at the time to secure the service passport. He says that he practised it several times to make sure that it happens,” Dr Ayeh said.
He further alleged that another suspect, identified as Sumana Alhassan, was responsible for obtaining the former Chief Director’s official letterhead, which was subsequently used to facilitate the forgery.
Dr Ayeh said the suspect explained how the letterhead was secured and used to prepare documents that were presented to the Passport Office to obtain the travel documents.
He also disclosed that an audio recording of the alleged confession was available, adding that the committee’s report was expected to be made public the following week.
The investigation was initiated after the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, received a petition on October 8, 2026, concerning the alleged unlawful issuance and sale of Service Passports.
The Minister subsequently constituted an investigative committee on October 13 to examine the allegations and establish the individuals involved.
The committee is chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant, with Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia, Madam Caroline Oppong Ntiri, Jeswuni Abudu, Audrey Abayage and Nana Yaa Wadee as members.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced the cancellation of 10 Service Passports allegedly issued to individuals who did not qualify for the travel documents.
In a statement issued on Sunday, November 8, the Ministry said preliminary investigations had established that the passports were issued through an alleged criminal network operating within the passport administration system in exchange for money.
The affected passports were reportedly issued between January 2023 and August 2026.
The Ministry also disclosed that two officials, including Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani, had been interdicted and referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigations and possible prosecution.
Alhassan Sumani has been identified in the petitions as the alleged mastermind of the scheme.
The Ministry said it received two petitions, with one petitioner alleging payment of US$29,000 in 2023, while another claimed to have paid US$5,000 to individuals involved in the scheme in 2026.
The 10 individuals whose Service Passports have been cancelled are Richard Sakyi Apenteng, Augustina Agyei Boateng, Juliet Amankwa, Rebecca Agyeiwaa, Prince Ahensah, Maybel Ahensah, Twumasi Francis Kwame, Gyabaah Anthony, Frederick Ennin and Bosompem Richard.
While the committee continues its investigations, the emerging revelations about alleged signature forgery and the absence of the interdicted director’s signature on the documents could prove significant in determining the extent of individual responsibility in the scandal.
