Ghana Parliament: Dispute over passport allegations leads to MP expulsion

A heated confrontation in the Ghanaian Parliament on November 3, 2026, resulted in the expulsion of Damongo MP and Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member, Samuel Abu Jinapor. The incident began when Jinapor alleged that diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts between US$10,000 and US$50,000, an accusation that reportedly implicated Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Speaker Alban Bagbin ordered Jinapor to withdraw the statement or provide evidence. Although Jinapor eventually withdrew the allegation twice, the Speaker maintained the directive for him to be escorted from the chamber by the Parliamentary Marshal. This decision prompted a walkout by Minority MPs in solidarity with Jinapor. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin condemned the Speaker’s actions as “disproportionate, humiliating and, in its effect, an act of parliamentary bullying.”

In response, Majority Leader James Agalga defended the Speaker, stating that parliamentary Standing Orders prohibit members from debating the presiding officer and require immediate compliance with directives. Agalga emphasized that the Speaker has a responsibility to maintain order and discipline. Meanwhile, Cletus Seidu Dapilah, Vice Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the Minority for making serious claims without concrete proof, asserting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is committed to full accountability.