GHANA has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, DC after uncovering a long-running visa and passport fee scam run by a local IT staffer, Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced on Monday.
In a statement posted to Facebook, Ablakwa said Fred Kwarteng, who had worked at the embassy since 2017, was immediately dismissed after an internal investigation revealed he had created a fake link on the embassy’s website. This redirect channelled unsuspecting visa and passport applicants to a privately run platform that illegally charged them between $29.75 and $60 in unauthorised fees.
The minister said a special audit team launched months ago uncovered the fraudulent operation, which had secretly run for at least five years. The case has now been referred to Ghana’s attorney-general for possible prosecution and efforts to recover misappropriated funds.
Full recall and suspension ordered
In response to the revelations, Ablakwa ordered the immediate recall of all Foreign Ministry officials at the Washington mission. The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved, and all locally recruited staff have been suspended pending further investigations.
‘The embassy will remain closed for a few days as we finalise the ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul,’ the minister stated.
The embassy is expected to resume operations once new security and accountability measures are implemented to prevent a repeat of the scandal.
Mahama launches new ethics code amid reforms
The embassy shutdown comes as President John Dramani Mahama strengthens his administration’s anti-corruption stance. He has launched a code of conduct for appointees, a formal document aimed at regulating behaviour across all levels of public office.
‘This is about rebuilding institutional trust,’ the president said, adding that rooting out corruption requires both accountability and systems reform.
The new code outlines expected standards for public service and is part of broader efforts to professionalise the civil service and insulate government institutions from abuse.
The Foreign Ministry has assured citizens that affected applicants will receive updated guidance on visa and passport services once the embassy reopens. Meanwhile, investigations into potential collaborators in the scheme are ongoing.
