OSP begins probe into GH¢49.7m South Africa evacuation spending, alleged passport scandal

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa and suspected corruption in issuing Ghanaian Diplomatic and Service Passports.

In the South Africa evacuation case, the OSP is examining expenditure incurred during the May 27 to September 4, 2026 exercise, which brought home 1,964 Ghanaians following xenophobic attacks.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry reported spending GH¢49,721,786 on flights, transportation, accommodation, feeding, medical services and reintegration allowances.

The OSP is examining alleged duplicate entries, inadequate supporting documents and payments recorded against beneficiaries who claim they did not receive the money.

“The Office is examining alleged discrepancies between reported expenditure and payment records, including duplicate entries, inadequate supporting documents and payments recorded against beneficiaries who say they did not receive them,” it stated.

The probe follows concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament, which has demanded an independent audit, claiming that GH¢16.4 million in expenditure requires further explanation. The Majority has defended the expenditure and disclosed that the Auditor-General had been invited to audit evacuation exercises dating back to 2017.

Separately, the OSP is investigating allegations that unqualified individuals obtained Diplomatic and Service Passports through payments to persons within the passport administration system.

The investigation follows the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s identification of 10 Service Passports allegedly issued irregularly between January 2023 and August 2026.

Two petitions also alleged payments of US$29,000 and US$5,000 in connection with the suspected scheme.

The Ministry has cancelled the 10 passports and interdicted Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani, referring both to the police for further investigations and possible prosecution.

The Minority has called for an independent parliamentary inquiry into the matter.

“Our purpose is to secure an independent parliamentary inquiry in which the available material can be examined, witnesses heard, and all persons concerned afforded a fair opportunity to respond,” Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, said.

The Minority also alleged that about 300 Ghanaians had travelled abroad using passports obtained through the suspected arrangement.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has clarified that the preliminary findings concern Service Passports, stressing that no evidence has so far emerged that Ghana’s Diplomatic Passports are being sold.

Both investigations remain ongoing. The OSP has emphasised that all persons concerned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.