By The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a final ultimatum. Diplomatic and service passport holders who received their passports from the previous administration must hand them over. They need to submit them to its Legal and Treaties Bureau by March 17.
This follows the directive by the Office of the President to recall the Diplomatic and Service Passports. These were issued during the previous administration. The subsequent public announcement was issued by the Ministry on January 15. It outlined the category of individuals affected.
A statement was issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It gave the final ultimatum. The statement said 404 Diplomatic Passports and 387 Service Passports remained outstanding. These were from holders who failed to surrender their passports when the original publication was made.
Affected individuals
It outlined the category of individuals affected as former Ministers and spouses. It included former Members of Parliament (MPs), irrespective of political affiliation. Former members of the Council of State and spouses were also affected. Additionally, former or retired justices of the superior and lower courts were included.
The rest are former Regional Ministers. They include Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives. There are Officers of State Institutions. The Chairs and Members of Boards are also included. Additionally, there are Officials of the National Cathedral Project.
The rest are former political ambassadors and dependents, businessmen and entrepreneurs. They are former government functionaries and all other persons holding official passports. Currently, they do not serve in any official capacity for the State. They do not hold any position. This does not fulfill the requirements of Section 6. It also does not meet the conditions of Section 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967, LCD 155.
Deadline
It said individuals in the above-listed category had to surrender their passports by March 17. This should be done to the Legal and Treaties of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without fail.
The statement said passports in the above categories not surrendered by the given deadline would be cancelled. They would be placed on the Stop-Watch List for seizure at any of Ghana’s entry and exit points.
