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The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, of setting up and supervising an alleged passport fraud scheme at the ministry, insisting that the operation did not originate in 2023, as the minister has suggested.

The party’s National Communications Director, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, alleged that the scheme was established under Mr. Ablakwa’s watch and facilitated by senior officials appointed by him, including the Director of Passports, Yahaya Amantana Mahama.

Speaking at the press conference of the Minority in Parliament last Sunday, Mr. Aboagye disputed the minister’s account of the alleged passport irregularities, arguing that the officials recently interdicted could not have been responsible for a scheme dating back to 2023 because they were not occupying their current positions at the time.

He cited Mr. Amantana and a junior officer, Alhassan Sumani, whom the minister had identified as key figures in the alleged operation, as examples of officials who were not in their respective roles in 2023.

According to him, Mr. Sumani was not even an employee of the Foreign Affairs Ministry at the time, while Mr. Amantana was not the Director of Passports.

He, therefore, accused the minister of using the 2023 timeline to deflect attention from the irregularities that occurred under his supervision.

Mr. Aboagye further alleged that Minister Ablakwa appointed Mr. Amantana as Director of Passports despite knowing that he did not meet the requirements for the position.

He claimed that the director subsequently engaged two travel agents, Ibrahim Wale and Bright Owusu, to facilitate the issuance of passports in exchange for payments.

The NPP Communications Director also challenged the minister’s decision to identify Mr. Sumani as a principal architect of the alleged operation, insisting that the junior officer was merely acting on instructions from his superior.

He said the NPP had examined a committee report which, according to him, contained WhatsApp exchanges showing Mr. Amantana instructing Mr. Sumani to facilitate the collection of passport booklets by a travel agent.

He alleged that whenever Mr. Wale arrived at the passport office, the director instructed Mr. Sumani to usher him to the director’s office to collect the booklets.

Miracles Aboagye argued that the evidence pointed to the involvement of senior officials, and questioned why the junior officer was being singled out while investigations were ongoing.

The Minority accused the ministry of failing to provide satisfactory explanations for the alleged sale of diplomatic passports, with prices reportedly ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

The caucus also called for a full parliamentary inquiry into the matter, arguing that the minister could not be allowed to investigate allegations involving officials operating under his supervision.

Mr. Aboagye reiterated the NPP’s support for the Minority’s demand, calling on the Speaker of Parliament to facilitate a full parliamentary investigation.

He maintained that the minister’s decision to establish an internal committee was inadequate, given that the allegations concerned officials within the ministry he supervised.

On the alleged involvement of diplomatic passports, Mr. Aboagye said the Minority had identified 24 passport booklets and four diplomatic passports in connection with its concerns.

He questioned how the minister could confidently state that no diplomatic passports were involved if, as he maintained, the alleged operation had been conducted without his knowledge.

The NPP director also accused Mr. Ablakwa of misleading the public by presenting a list of cancelled service passports as evidence of illegal passports uncovered during the ministry’s investigations.

He said the list had been published by the minister in May 2025 and contained the names of individuals who had failed to return service passports after they were no longer entitled to retain them.

Mr. Aboagye further disputed the minister’s suggestion that the current investigation stemmed from complaints dating back to 2023.

He said the only petition the minister was relying on was submitted by a pastor and his wife on October 8, 2026.

According to him, the couple complained that they had paid money to obtain service passports and American visas but had received the passports without the promised US visas.

He said the couple subsequently demanded either the delivery of the visas or a refund of their money.

Mr. Aboagye maintained that the complaint concerned transactions in 2026 and not an alleged scheme operating since 2023.

He warned that the passport controversy was only one of several issues the NPP intended to raise about the Foreign Affairs Ministry, promising further disclosures in the coming days.

He said the party had documentary and electronic evidence to support its concerns and would continue to work with the Minority Caucus to demand accountability.

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Communications Director, Ibrahim Sannie Daara, has cautioned the Black Stars against taking Somalia lightly ahead of their crucial 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Ghana host Somalia at the Essipong Sports Stadium on Thursday, November 12, before the return fixture on Monday, November 16, in Matchdays 3 and 4.

Both games will be played in Ghana. The Black Stars sit bottom of Group C without a point after defeats to Ivory Coast and The Gambia, leaving the four-time African champions under pressure.

‘Black Stars must not underrate Somalia because they also have players playing in Europe and they could cause us problems if we are not careful,’ Sannie Daara told Asempa FM’s Ultimate Sports Show.

He believes the home fixtures offer a chance to revive the campaign. ‘These games have offered the team a chance to revive their AFCON qualifiers campaign because there is no away game,’ he said, adding that Ghana must ‘win both games to secure all six points.’

Sannie Daara also urged the technical team to prioritise quality in selection, regardless of where players are based.

‘It does not matter whether the player is a local player or a foreign-based player. If that particular player is good enough to play for the Black Stars, he should be invited,’ he said.

Interim technical team leader Kim Lars Björkegren is expected to announce his squad this week

Ghana are hoping to return to the AFCON, which Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host in 2027, after missing the 2025 edition in Morocco.

Some concerned chiefs and elders from the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area have criticised the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for alleged incessant disrespect towards the Paramount Chief of the area, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III.

Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, is being accused of alleged interference in local chieftaincy issues.

The chiefs said they could not fathom why the Ellembelle MP refuses to acknowledge Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III as the gazetted Omanhene at durbars, opting instead to recognise a rival, non-gazetted claimant to the stool who is reportedly under a court injunction.

They have, therefore, called on President John Mahama to call Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah to order and stop him from meddling in the chieftaincy issues of Eastern Nzema.

Addressing a press conference in Takoradi under the theme, ‘Reclaiming Our Heritage, Protecting Stool Lands, Exposing Interference in Chieftaincy Matters,’ the chiefs claimed that because of the ongoing chieftaincy dispute, the police have taken over the Omanhene’s palace, making it difficult for Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III to enter.

The Divisional Chief of Salman in Ellembelle, Nana Kwamina Bentum II, said, ‘As sub-chiefs, we expected the MP to help resolve the chieftaincy issues, not to side with one faction.’

He noted that the peace of Eastern Nzema is too precious to be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency and the reckless abuse of public authority.

He added that the disregard for established traditional authorities and the alleged misuse of political influence in chieftaincy matters have become a source of grave concern.

‘The resulting atmosphere of tension, fear, and insecurity threatens the very foundations of peaceful coexistence and community development,’ he said.

‘Eastern Nzema must not be allowed to descend into a theatre of avoidable conflict because of the ambitions of a few individuals,’ he pointed out.

He told journalists that the dignity of the chieftaincy institution must be protected against manipulation by individuals seeking political advantage or control over traditional communities.

‘We are alarmed by reports of persons allegedly intruding into traditional jurisdictions and engaging in activities that have heightened tensions in various communities,’ he added.

Other speakers, including Nana Nwia Etease VI, Chief of Baku and Head of the Gyaase, said political actors have become involved in disputes in ways that risk aggravating divisions rather than promoting peace.

Nana Morkeh Kpanyinli IV, Chief of Ngalekyi, also emphasised that political officeholders must understand that their positions are held in trust for the people and not for particular factions.

Gospel musician, Brother Sammy, has opened up about his past financial decisions, revealing that he once owned 14 cars despite living in a rented house.

The singer said an encounter with an elderly man at a funeral made him realise that his approach to wealth accumulation was flawed.

Recounting the experience, Brother Sammy said he had given the elderly man some money during the funeral. When he returned the following day in a different vehicle, the man recognised him, expressed his gratitude and invited him to sit beside him.

Their conversation took an unexpected turn when the elderly man discovered that the musician owned several cars but had no house of his own.

The revelation reportedly surprised the elderly man and prompted a reflection on the singer’s spending priorities and the importance of investing in permanent assets rather than accumulating expensive vehicles.

Africa’s leading industrialist and business magnate, Aliko Dangote, will join President John Dramani Mahama to open the 2026 Invest Ghana Summit (IGS), scheduled for November 16 and 17 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.

The two-day summit is expected to attract investors, multinational corporations, policymakers and business leaders from across the world, as Ghana seeks to strengthen its position as a preferred destination for investment and regional business expansion.

According to a statement issued by the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA), the summit will connect international capital with investment-ready opportunities across manufacturing, agribusiness, infrastructure, energy, logistics, healthcare, mining, tourism, digital technology and the creative economy.

The summit is being convened by GIPA, with support from the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), the National AfCFTA Coordination Office and the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+).

Other partners include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance.

Held under the theme, ‘Investing in Ghana’s New Economy: Building a Productive Economy that Creates Value and Competes Globally,’ the summit will showcase Ghana’s investment opportunities and promote partnerships to support the country’s economic transformation agenda.

The statement said the discussions would highlight the government’s US$10 billion investment programme for 2026 to 2030, which seeks to shift the economy from stabilisation towards production-led growth.

The programme targets investment in agriculture, manufacturing, energy, mining value addition, tourism and other productive sectors.

The summit will also highlight the recently enacted GIPA Act, which is expected to strengthen the investment facilitation framework and improve services and support for investors.

A major attraction will be an exclusive fireside conversation with Mr Dangote, who will share insights from building one of Africa’s largest industrial conglomerates.

The session will examine opportunities to scale investment, strengthen regional value chains and advance industrial development across the continent.

This will be followed by a keynote address by President Mahama, who is expected to outline Ghana’s economic transformation agenda and its vision for investment-led growth, industrialisation and export expansion.

Chief Executive Officer of GIPA, Simon Madjie, said Mr Dangote’s participation sent a strong signal to the international investment community about Ghana’s growing appeal as a destination for large-scale industrial investment.

‘Mr. Dangote’s presence at the Invest Ghana Summit is a powerful endorsement of Ghana’s economic potential and investment outlook. As one of Africa’s most respected industrial leaders, he will enrich discussions on industrialisation, regional value chains and private-sector-led growth, while inspiring investors and entrepreneurs seeking to build globally competitive businesses from Africa,’ he said.

Another major feature of the summit will be an Investor Facilitation Hub, bringing together 19 public institutions under one roof to provide direct support to investors.

The hub will offer assistance with business registration, taxation, permits, immigration services, investment incentives, environmental approvals and other regulatory requirements.

The summit will also host an AfCFTA Investment Breakfast to explore investment opportunities arising from the continent’s single market.

Discussions will focus on industrialisation, regional value chains, investment facilitation and how businesses can leverage Ghana’s position as host of the AfCFTA Secretariat to expand their operations across Africa.