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Abu Jinapor speaks after Tuesday's 'showdown' with Speaker of Parliament

Samuel Abu Jinapor, Member of Parliament for Damongo

Wed, 4 Nov 2026 Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has spoken about the events in Parliament that led to his removal from the chamber by Speaker Alban Bagbin on Tuesday.

In a social media post on November 3, 2026, the Member of Parliament for Damongo said he had raised serious and disturbing allegations concerning the alleged sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.

He explained that he raised the matter in his capacity as Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, calling on the Minister for Foreign Affairs to appear before Parliament and account for the allegations.

According to him, the Majority Leader objected to his intervention. However, Jinapor maintained that allegations of such gravity, which were already circulating in the public domain, could not be ignored.

He argued that the allegations had serious implications for Ghana’s international reputation, the integrity of its diplomatic passports and the credibility of state institutions.

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Jinapor said the Speaker subsequently directed him to withdraw his statement, following which he was ordered to leave the chamber.

He stated that although he had enormous respect for the Office of the Speaker and Alban Bagbin personally, that respect did not diminish his constitutional and parliamentary responsibility to raise matters of grave national concern and demand accountability.

“I called for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to appear before Parliament and account for these allegations.

“The Majority Leader objected to my intervention. However, I maintained that allegations of such gravity, already circulating in the public domain, cannot simply be ignored. They have serious implications for Ghana’s international reputation, the integrity of our diplomatic passports and the credibility of our institutions.

“As Ranking Member, I consider it my solemn duty to bring such consequential matters before Parliament, without fear or favour. I owe this duty to Ghana, my constituents and the New Patriotic Party.

“The Rt Hon Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, subsequently directed me to withdraw the said statement.

“I have enormous respect for the Office of the Speaker and for Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin personally. That respect, however, does not diminish my constitutional and parliamentary responsibility to raise matters of grave national concern and demand accountability,” he said.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP also expressed gratitude to his colleagues on the Minority side who, he said, stood by him and walked out of the chamber in solidarity after the Speaker directed that he be escorted out.

“Let me be clear: Respect for parliamentary authority and the pursuit of accountability are not mutually exclusive. I remain a disciplined, patriotic and respectful Member of Parliament, but equally a proud and committed member of the Mighty Minority, determined to hold the Government accountable, particularly in matters concerning our foreign affairs.

“Accountability is non-negotiable! God bless our homeland Ghana,” he added.

MY TAKE ON TODAY’S INCIDENT IN PARLIAMENT

At today’s sitting of Parliament, I raised serious and disturbing allegations concerning the alleged sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.

In my capacity as Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, I called for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to appear before Parliament and account for these allegations.

The Majority Leader objected to my intervention. However, I maintained that allegations of such gravity, already circulating in the public domain, cannot simply be ignored. They have serious implications for Ghana’s international reputation, the integrity of our diplomatic passports and the credibility of our institutions.

As Ranking Member, I consider it my solemn duty to bring such consequential matters before Parliament, without fear or favour. I owe this duty to Ghana, my constituents and the New Patriotic Party.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, subsequently directed me to withdraw the said statement.

I have enormous respect for the Office of the Speaker and for Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin personally. That respect, however, does not diminish my constitutional and parliamentary responsibility to raise matters of grave national concern and demand accountability.

I am deeply grateful to my colleagues on the Minority side who stood firmly with me and walked out in solidarity when the Speaker directed that I be escorted out of the Chamber.

Let me be clear: Respect for parliamentary authority and the pursuit of accountability are not mutually exclusive.

I remain a disciplined, patriotic and respectful Member of Parliament, but equally a proud and committed member of the Mighty Minority, determined to hold the Government accountable, particularly in matters concerning our foreign affairs.

Accountability is non-negotiable!

God bless our homeland Ghana.
— Samuel A. Jinapor (@SamuelAJinapor) November 3, 2026