Why Speaker Bagbin ordered Abu Jinapor to walk out of Parliament

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, ordered the Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, to walk out of the Chamber following a disagreement over allegations that Ghanaian diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.

The incident occurred after Jinapor, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee, raised the allegations on the floor of the House and called for the matter to be investigated.

Bagbin directed him to withdraw the allegation, insisting that he could return to the matter with supporting evidence.

However, the Damongo MP initially appeared hesitant to comply with the directive, prompting the Speaker to instruct the Marshal of Parliament to escort him out of the Chamber.

“Marshal, please carry out the orders immediately. Honourable Abu Jinapor, please walk out of this place or you will be taken out,” the Speaker directed.

Jinapor was subsequently seen packing his books and leaving the Chamber, while his colleagues on the Minority side staged a walkout in solidarity with him.

The confrontation followed concerns raised by Jinapor over reports that diplomatic passports were allegedly being sold for amounts ranging from US$10,000 to US$50,000.

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Describing the development as a serious threat to Ghana’s international reputation, the MP called for the matter to be brought before Parliament for investigation.

He maintained that there was “unimpeachable evidence” that diplomatic passports were being sold and argued that the issue required urgent parliamentary attention because of its potential implications for Ghana’s standing in the international community.

“As we speak today, there is evidence, unimpeachable evidence, that today diplomatic passports are being sold, Mr Speaker,” he told the House.

Jinapor further pointed out that, by law, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had the authority to grant diplomatic passports, adding that their issuance and use were subject to strict procedures because of the privileges and international responsibilities associated with them.

“By law, it is only the Minister who has the authority to grant diplomatic passports in our country,” he said.

However, his attempt to raise the matter was interrupted by the Majority Leader, James Agalga, who objected to the allegation on the grounds that it amounted to a serious accusation of criminal conduct requiring substantiation.

Agalga argued that the Damongo MP needed to provide evidence to support his claim before it could be admitted as part of parliamentary proceedings.

He consequently urged the Speaker to direct Jinapor to withdraw the allegation and have the relevant portion expunged from the parliamentary records.

Minority MPs walk out of Parliament in solidarity with Abu Jinapor after Speaker ordered Marshall to walk him out over an unsubstantiated allegation over the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports https://t.co/HYRKJv0Rzw https://t.co/ueiecNVxKX

— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) November 3, 2026

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