Politics of Tuesday, 6 May 2025
Source: www.ghanawebbers.com
Samuel Abu Jinapor, a Ranking Member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, has criticized the John Mahama administration. He claims they are trying to take credit for the new chip-embedded passport program.
Jinapor, a former Lands Minister under Akufo-Addo, insists this innovation was developed by his government. He says it was fully funded and operational before handing over power in January 2025.
“We built it,” stated the Damongo MP. He added that everything from conception to execution was done under former President Akufo-Addo. Jinapor questioned why President Mahama wants credit for a project he did not implement.
His comments follow the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launching Ghana’s chip-embedded passports on April 28, 2025. This rollout has received praise but also sparked controversy over who deserves recognition.
According to Jinapor, then-President Akufo-Addo officially launched the project on December 2, 2024. At that time, there were already 50,000 passports ready and another 200,000 ordered before the new government took over.
“The records are unimpeachable,” he said. “This project was planned and funded under our watch and fully executed.” He described the current rollout as merely a “re-launch” of an already completed project.
Jinapor suggested that the ceremony is part of a political strategy to mislead Ghanaians about history. He highlighted efforts by the Akufo-Addo government to adopt global travel identification standards.
The project involved partnerships with private companies through a PPP model. This approach avoided straining public finances and included firms like 25th Century Technology Limited and Buck Press Limited.
Jinapor and other members of the Minority on the Foreign Affairs Committee warned against politicizing completed projects. They believe this wastes public resources and undermines institutional credibility.
“What matters now is how effectively the system benefits Ghanaians,” Jinapor stated. He urged the new administration to focus on implementation rather than public relations games with past achievements.
He concluded by reminding officials that history cannot be rewritten through press conferences. “The facts are documented,” he said. “The passports you are issuing today were ordered and launched yesterday — by us.”