By Iddi Yire
Accra, Jan 16, GNA – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has outlined the categories of persons affected by the presidential directive on the withdrawal of Diplomatic and Service passports issued under the Akufo-Addo Administration.
The Ministry said it had been directed by the Office of the President to recall those passports not later than Friday, 24th January 2025, a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency said.
“The recall exercise is to ensure a review of all Diplomatic and Service Passports in line with the current eligibility criteria for issuance,” it said.
The category of officials includes former ministers and spouses; former Members of Parliament irrespective of political affiliation; former Members of the Council of State and spouses; former/retired justices of the superior and lower courts and former regional ministers.
Others are metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, chief executive officers of state institutions, chairs and members of Boards and officials of the National Cathedral Project.
The rest are former political ambassadors and dependants; businessmen and entrepreneurs; religious and traditional leaders; former government functionaries; and all other persons holding official passports not currently serving in any official capacity for the State, or otherwise holding any position that falls under the requirements of sections 6 and 7 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 NLCD 155.
The statement said the above-mentioned officials were to return their passports to the Legal and Treaties Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not later than Friday, 24th January, 2025.
“It is further aimed at preventing misuse and safeguarding the integrity of the Diplomatic and Service passports”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs counts on the cooperation of all holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports to undertake this important exercise as directed.
GNA