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

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration issued the directive as part of efforts to recover passports issued under the previous administration that no longer comply with current regulations.

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In a press release dated March 10, the Ministry stated that individuals who fail to return these passports will be added to the Stop-Watch List, resulting in their 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,” parts of the statement read.

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This measure follows a January 15, announcement and aligns with a presidential directive to review and retrieve outdated official passports.Despite repeated notices, 404 Diplomatic Passports and 387 Service Passports remain unreturned.

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The Ministry has urged former ministers and their spouses, ex-Members of Parliament from all political parties, former Council of State members and their spouses, as well as retired justices of the Superior and Lower Courts, to return their passports immediately.

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Other individuals required to comply include former regional ministers, metropolitan, municipal, and district chief executives, former board chairs and members of state institutions, officials involved in the National Cathedral Project, and former political ambassadors along with their dependents.

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Additionally,entrepreneurs and individuals holding an official passport without an active state role are expected to surrender them within the time frame given.

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