Ghana has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., following the discovery of a significant corruption scandal involving visa fraud and unauthorized payments.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the closure on Monday, describing it as a necessary step toward restoring integrity and accountability within Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.
“This is part of a decisive effort to restructure and overhaul embassy operations following shocking audit findings,” Ablakwa stated. “With the support of President Mahama, we are taking bold action to fight corruption and rebuild public trust.”
According to report, a special audit revealed that Fred Kwarteng, a locally hired IT officer at the embassy since 2017, created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website.
The link redirected visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where unofficial fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 were charged.
These payments, which were not sanctioned under Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act, were funneled directly into Kwarteng’s personal bank account. Investigators believe the fraudulent scheme operated undetected for at least five years.
The case has been forwarded to Ghana’s Attorney-General for possible prosecution and efforts to recover the misappropriated funds.
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In response, all Foreign Ministry staff stationed at the Washington, D.C. mission have been recalled to Accra. The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved, and all locally hired personnel have been suspended pending further investigation.
Minister Ablakwa further disclosed that the Auditor-General will conduct a comprehensive forensic audit to determine the full extent of the financial loss.
While acknowledging the temporary disruption to consular services, Ablakwa emphasized the importance of taking firm action.
“The government of President Mahama maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, abuse of office, and conflicts of interest,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, no specific timeline has been given for the embassy’s reopening, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured the public that services will resume once the restructuring process is complete.
