Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, an expert in international relations, has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to tighten the criteria for issuing diplomatic and service passports to ensure only those who truly require them receive them.
Dr. Antwi-Danso’s comments come after public outcry following the Ministry’s announcement of a list of individuals affected by President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to recall diplomatic and service passports issued under the administration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The recall, mandated by the Office of the President, seeks to protect the integrity of Ghana’s official travel documents and diplomatic relations.
In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Antwi-Danso emphasized the need for a more stringent approach to issuing special passports in order to prevent potential misuse and uphold the credibility of Ghana’s diplomatic engagements.
“The issuance process should be tightened. In fact, everywhere I have met persons with diplomatic passports or special passports, they are working for the state. Their work is such that it serves the state purpose. But here, it is linkages and whom you know and ‘homeboyism’ kind of attitude towards all these.
“We should be very careful because when you are holding a diplomatic passport and you do anything untoward, it brings about a big problem between the host country where you are and Ghana. That is why we need to tighten the criteria. We need to make it so tough in acquiring it.”
