Ghana’s Embassy in Washington D.C. will officially reopen on Thursday, May 29, 2025, following a temporary closure to address serious allegations of corruption and misconduct.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in a statement released on Tuesday, May 27. According to the Ministry, a team of seasoned diplomats, led by a senior official, has been appointed to complete ongoing structural reforms at the embassy.
The closure, which began on Monday, May 26, was initiated after a damning audit report uncovered a fraudulent scheme involving the embassy’s IT department. The audit revealed that Fred Kwarteng, a local staff member recruited in 2017, had allegedly created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website. This link redirected visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where he charged unapproved extra fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 per applicant.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the fraudulent scheme went on for at least five years and operated without the knowledge or approval of the Ministry or Parliament—violating the Fees and Charges Act.
Minister Ablakwa, with the full backing of President John Dramani Mahama, announced sweeping reforms to restore trust and integrity at the mission:
- Immediate dismissal of Fred Kwarteng.
- Recall of all Ministry staff posted to the Washington embassy.
- Dissolution of the embassy’s IT department.
- Suspension of all locally recruited staff.
- Closure of the embassy for several days to facilitate restructuring.
- Forensic audit to be conducted by the Auditor-General to determine the total cost of the fraudulent operations.
- Criminal charges against Fred Kwarteng are being pursued by the Attorney-General.
With these corrective measures underway, the Ministry has confirmed that the embassy will resume operations on May 29. Officials assure the public that a more secure and transparent system will be in place to serve Ghanaians and other clients more efficiently.
Minister Ablakwa apologized for any inconvenience caused, emphasizing that the government maintains a firm zero-tolerance policy on corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest.