“Ambassador Grant is your friend; he can’t chair probe into passport scandal” – Minority to Ablakwa

The Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Nana Asafo Adjei Ayeh, has questioned the decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appoint Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa to chair an internal committee investigating allegations of the irregular issuance of diplomatic and service passports.

According to the Bosome Freho MP, the appointment raises concerns about the credibility and independence of the investigation, given what he described as the close relationship between Ambassador Grant and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Ayeh argued that the Minister should not appoint someone he considers a friend to investigate allegations involving his ministry.

“How can the Ministry come and tell us that it has set up a committee with Ambassador Grant as the chair? We all know that Grant is the Minister’s friend. You are the one who pays him and approves his promotion. So, how can someone appoint his own friend to investigate allegations against him?” he questioned.

He further raised concerns about the proposed reporting arrangement, arguing that the committee would submit its findings to the Minister for review before the report was made public.

“He will bring the report to you for review, and if you are satisfied, it will then be made public. Where is this done?” he asked.

Mr Ayeh maintained that the allegations required an independent investigation by Parliament rather than an internal process led by officials within the ministry under scrutiny.

He said the Minority would pursue a parliamentary inquiry into claims that diplomatic and service passports had been issued or sold to private individuals who did not hold official positions representing the state.

At a press conference in Accra on Sunday, November 8, the Minority announced plans to file a motion in Parliament on Thursday for the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the alleged irregularities.

The caucus intends to invoke Article 103 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for the establishment of parliamentary committees to undertake investigations and inquiries into matters within Parliament’s remit.

The Minority has argued that the Foreign Affairs Ministry cannot be expected to independently investigate allegations involving its own operations, particularly when some of the officials responsible for overseeing the process may themselves come under scrutiny.

The controversy follows an announcement by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Sunday, November 8, that the ministry had established an internal committee chaired by Ambassador Alexander Grant Ntrakwa to investigate the acquisition of diplomatic and service passports.

The development has triggered calls from the Minority for a broader parliamentary investigation to establish how the alleged irregularities occurred and identify those responsible.