Ghana has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., following the uncovering of a major corruption scandal involving visa fraud and unauthorised payments.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the decision on Monday, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring integrity and accountability within Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad.
A special audit revealed that Fred Kwarteng, a locally hired IT officer at the embassy since 2017, created an unauthorised 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 collected.
These payments, which violated Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act, were funneled directly into Kwarteng’s personal bank account. Investigators believe the fraudulent operation may have run undetected for at least five years.
The matter has been referred to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and efforts to recover misused public funds.
In the wake of the scandal, all Foreign Ministry staff assigned to the embassy have been recalled to Accra. The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved, and all locally recruited staff suspended pending further investigation.
Minister Ablakwa also announced that the Auditor-General will conduct a full forensic audit to assess the total financial loss to the state.
While acknowledging the inconvenience the closure poses to Ghanaians and foreign nationals seeking consular services, the minister emphasised the necessity of firm action to clean up the system.
No timeline has been provided for the embassy’s reopening. The Foreign Ministry says services will resume once the restructuring process is complete.
