Ghana to Invalidate Unreturned Diplomatic and Service Passports After March 17

The government has announced that all unreturned diplomatic and service passports will be invalidated after the March 17 deadline.

In a press release dated March 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration stated that individuals who fail to return these passports will be placed on the Stop-Watch List, leading to immediate confiscation at Ghana’s borders.

“Passports in the above categories not surrendered by the given deadline will be cancelled and placed on the Stop-Watch List for seizure at any of Ghana's entry and exit points,” the statement read.

This directive is part of an effort to retrieve passports issued under the previous administration that no longer comply with current regulations. Despite repeated notices, 404 diplomatic passports and 387 service passports remain unreturned.

The Ministry has called on former ministers and their spouses, ex-Members of Parliament, former Council of State members, retired justices, and other past government officials to return their passports immediately. Additionally, entrepreneurs and individuals holding an official passport without an active state role are required to comply.

This measure follows a presidential directive to review and recover outdated official passports, reinforcing the government's commitment to proper passport management.