The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has provided clarification regarding the issuance of a diplomatic passport to Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, also known as Kwabena Adu Gyamfi in official records at the Passport Office.
The passport was granted based on his status as a prominent citizen traveling abroad for essential government engagements.
Addressing inquiries from Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Friday, March 15, the Minister outlined the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the diplomatic passport.
According to the Minister, the decision to issue the diplomatic passport in the name of Kwabena Adu Gyamfi was made because the application was supported by all necessary valid documentation, including his previous ordinary passport bearing the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
This process, she emphasized, adhered to fundamental legal principles governing such matters.
“Mr. Speaker, the issuance of diplomatic passports is regulated by Section 6 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155), which provides that:”Mr. Speaker, the issuance of diplomatic passports is regulated by Section 6 of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155), which provides that:
(a) The member responsible may issue a diplomatic passport to: i. Any member of the Government of Ghana proceeding abroad on official business and the spouse of such a member who accompanies the said government official on his journey.
ii. Any diplomatic representative of Ghana accredited to any other country or to any official international organization as head of mission and any member of the Diplomatic staff of such a representative.
iii. Any Consular officer of Ghana.
iv. The spouse and every member of the immediate family residing with a diplomat or any person referred to at B or C to whom a diplomatic passport is issued.
v. The head of any delegation of Ghana attending an International Conference or convention at which countries are officially represented.
vi. Any prominent citizen or high public official of Ghana proceeding abroad who, in the opinion of the government, requires such passport for the purpose for which he is traveling abroad, as inserted by Passport and Travel Certificates Amendment Law, 1993 (PNC Law 310).
(b) A diplomatic passport shall not be issued to any person other than those referred to in subparagraph one of this paragraph. Section 61(4) confers discretionary powers on the Honorable Minister to form an opinion whether an applicant is a prominent citizen or a high public official proceeding abroad and would require a diplomatic passport to facilitate such travels.
In this case, Mr. Adu Gyamfi was considered a prominent citizen traveling abroad on important government business. Further, it is a basic principle of law that the express mention of an item connotes exclusion of any unmentioned item. In this regard, and based on the law as espoused above, particularly Section 62 of NLCD 155, the Honorable Minister may grant diplomatic passports to only persons listed in subsection one of Section 6.
Diplomatic passport number DX 06845 was issued in the name of Kwabena Adu Gyamfi because the application was backed by requisite valid documents, including previous ordinary passport number G20 27127, which bore the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
It must be noted that the passport holder had a previous passport number G202 7127 obtained in 2018 and passport number G039 695 issued in 2012, which both bore the name Kwabena Adu Gyamf. It is pertinent to emphasize that the name Victor Kusti is unknown to the Passport Office,” she added.
In 2023, Mr. Ablakwa alleged that Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng possessed multiple passports, including one under the name Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. He claimed that Reverend Kusi Boateng used these passports and identification cards with different names and dates of birth.
Mr. Ablakwa also alleged that JNS Talent Centre Ltd, owned by Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng, received payments amounting to GH¢2.6 million for the construction of the National Cathedral, under the pseudonym Kwabena Adu Gyamfi.
Documents presented by Mr. Ablakwa suggested that Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng were the same person. Reverend Kusi Boateng subsequently filed a defamation suit against Mr. Ablakwa.
In July 13, the Human Rights Court dismissed an application by Reverend Victor Kusi Boateng to restrain Mr. Ablakwa from discussing him in relation to the National Cathedral.
This decision came after Mr. Ablakwa was seen in a video refusing to accept court documents relating to the defamation suit.