Gyampo accuses 'planted' public service officials of leaking information to NPP

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Professor Ransford Gyampo, has raised concerns about alleged corruption and politically motivated information leaks within the public service, accusing some officials of working to advance the interests of a previous administration.

He alleged that certain individuals who remained in public institutions following the change of government were exploiting their positions to sustain corrupt activities and release confidential information for political advantage.

In a series of social media posts, Prof. Gyampo suggested that the alleged conduct formed part of attempts to undermine the current administration, but expressed confidence that the government would use the situation to reform the public service.

“It’s a bunch of corrupt people who left their remnants in the public service to perpetuate corrupt practices and leak information on same, to be used for inconsequential political benefits. But we would seize the opportunity to RESET the system,” he wrote.

The Ghana Shippers Authority boss also took aim at the opposition's approach to holding government officials accountable, particularly what he described as the increasing reliance on press conferences to demand the resignation of political appointees.

He questioned the effectiveness of the strategy, arguing that it offered little political value and fell short of the standards previously demonstrated by leading communicators of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“Ghanaians are not bothered about the new infantile national communications strategy of ‘resignation-call-press-conferences.’ That’s not how the Fiifi Kweteys, Sammy Gyamfis etc did it. The guys are even non-receptive to learning,” he added.

His criticism comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to relinquish his position.

The opposition party has raised questions about the government's evacuation of 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa, alongside allegations involving the unlawful acquisition of Ghanaian diplomatic and service passports.

The NPP has demanded explanations and accountability from the Foreign Affairs Minister over the controversies.

Foreign Ministry cancels 10 service passports

Meanwhile, investigations into suspected irregularities in the issuance of Ghanaian service passports have resulted in the cancellation of 10 travel documents and the interdiction of 2 officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry announced on Sunday, November 8, 2026, that preliminary findings had uncovered an alleged syndicate through which individuals who did not meet the eligibility requirements obtained service passports after making unauthorised payments.

According to the Ministry, the affected documents were issued between January 2023 and August 2026.

It explained that the cancellation rendered the passports invalid for international travel, while relevant foreign authorities had been informed to prevent their continued use.

“The Ministry assures that all the service passports listed above which were illegally issued since 2023 have been cancelled and therefore cannot be used. Our international partners have been duly notified,” the statement said.

As part of the administrative measures taken following the preliminary investigation, Acting Director of Passports Mahama Yahaya Amantana and junior Foreign Service Officer Alhassan Sumani have been interdicted.

Both officials have also been referred to the Ghana Police Service for further investigation and possible prosecution over their alleged roles in the arrangement.

The Ministry identified Mr Sumani as a central figure in the suspected operation, indicating that his name appeared in all petitions submitted in connection with the matter.

It further disclosed that before his appointment to the Foreign Service on November 29, 2024, Mr Sumani allegedly operated as an intermediary, popularly known as a “goro boy”, within the passport acquisition system.

The investigation was initiated after the Ministry received 2 petitions alleging that money had been collected from individuals seeking to obtain service passports through unauthorised channels.

One of the petitions, received on October 8, 2026, alleged that US$29,000 had been paid to persons involved in the arrangement, while another petition received in 2026 cited a payment of US$5,000.

Following the complaints, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa directed the establishment of an investigative committee on October 13, 2026, to examine the allegations and identify those responsible.

The Ministry has indicated that the inquiry will extend beyond serving officials to include individuals who previously held positions connected to the issuance of the affected passports.

Consequently, former Director of Passports Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, who supervised the passport office during part of the period under investigation, will also be subjected to scrutiny by the security agencies.

Although Ambassador Idris has retired from public service, the Ministry maintained that he would face appropriate sanctions if investigations established his involvement in any wrongdoing.

“In the interest of fairness, impartiality and non-discrimination, the Director of Passports for the 2023 period in issue, Ambassador Mohammed Habib Idris, who is now retired, would also be investigated by the security services and sanctioned if found culpable just like his counterpart, Mr. Mahama Yahaya Amantana,” the statement said.

Beneficiaries of cancelled passports identified

The Foreign Ministry also made public the identities of the 10 individuals whose service passports were revoked following the preliminary findings.

They are Richard Sakyi Apenteng, Augustina Agyei Boateng, Juliet Amankwa, Rebecca Agyeiwaa, Prince Ahensah, Maybel Ahensah, Twumasi Francis Kwame, Gyabaah Anthony, Frederick Ennin and Bosompem Richard.

Investigators further established that 2 of the beneficiaries had successfully travelled outside Ghana in 2023 using passports allegedly obtained through the irregular arrangement.

The Ministry says efforts are continuing to identify and pursue everyone implicated in the suspected scheme, with the possibility of further action depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.