A disagreement over allegations of diplomatic passport sales led to Damongo MP Samuel Abu Jinapor being escorted out of Parliament’s Chamber by a Parliamentary Marshal on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
The incident occurred during the first sitting of the Third Meeting of the Second Session after Jinapor accused Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of involvement in the sale of diplomatic passports.
Majority Leader James Agalga challenged the allegation, arguing that it was not supported by facts. Speaker Alban Bagbin subsequently asked Jinapor, who is the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, to withdraw his statement.
Jinapor refused, prompting a Parliamentary Marshal to escort him out of the Chamber. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin criticised the Speaker’s decision, describing it as “harsh, high-handed and unfair.”
The confrontation comes amid the Minority’s sustained scrutiny of the issuance of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.
The NPP has questioned the eligibility of some recipients, particularly six individuals whose official positions were allegedly inaccurately described or did not exist.
The party has also petitioned the US Embassy in Ghana to suspend recognition of the affected passports pending an independent verification.
The passport controversy featured prominently in the NPP’s “Yɛgye Yɛn Sika” demonstration in Accra earlier on Tuesday.
The protesters also demanded accountability over the reported GH¢49.72 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.
The NPP has demanded Ablakwa’s resignation or dismissal, arguing that the issues require an independent investigation.
The minister has rejected allegations of financial wrongdoing and called for an independent audit of the evacuation expenditure.
Jinapor’s removal from the Chamber adds to the ongoing parliamentary disagreement over the minister’s handling of the evacuation exercise and the issuance of diplomatic and service passports.
