Ghana’s government has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., following the uncovering of a widespread visa fraud scheme that operated undetected for at least five years, involving unauthorized payments and abuse of office. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the shutdown on Monday, citing the need to restore accountability after a special audit revealed systemic corruption. The decision has the backing of President John Mahama as part of a broader diplomatic service overhaul.
Fred Kwarteng, a locally hired IT officer at the embassy since 2017, created a rogue link on the embassy’s website that redirected visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). Kwarteng allegedly used the platform to charged applicants unapproved processing fees ranging from $29.75 to $60, which were paid directly into Kwarteng’s personal bank account. The unauthorized operation potentially siphoned tens of thousands of dollars, violating Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act and bypassing official government channels.
The foreign affairs ministry as led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah with the the approval of Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has taken immediate action including;
- All foreign ministry staff assigned to the Washington embassy have been recalled to Accra.
- The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved, and all locally recruited personnel have been suspended pending a full investigation.
- A forensic audit is underway to assess the total financial damage.
- The case has been referred to Ghana’s Attorney General for prosecution and potential asset recovery.
Okudzeto Ablakwa acknowledged the temporary disruption to consular services but emphasized that “this bold step is essential to rebuild trust and demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption.” There is no official timeline for the embassy’s reopening, though the Foreign Ministry stated that services will resume after restructuring is complete and oversight mechanisms are enhanced.
This is the first time in Ghana’s recent diplomatic history that a mission abroad has been shut down due to internal corruption, signaling a new direction in transparency and accountability under the Mahama administration.
