Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. Closed Amid Scandal Over Visa and Passport Fees

In a dramatic development, the Government of Ghana has ordered the immediate closure of its embassy in Washington, D.C., following the exposure of a long-running corruption scandal involving the diversion of consular fees. The decision includes the complete recall of staff and a temporary halt of all embassy operations.

The announcement was made public by Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, through a post on his official Facebook page on Monday, May 26, 2025. He detailed a case of financial impropriety that spanned several years and implicated a key member of the embassy’s IT department.

According to Minister Ablakwa, a locally hired staff member, identified as Fred Kwarteng, was found to have operated an elaborate scheme in which visa and passport application payments were fraudulently rerouted to his private company. The misconduct came to light during a special audit mission that was tasked with probing suspected irregularities at the diplomatic post.

Kwarteng, employed since August 11, 2017, exploited his role in the IT department by creating an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website. This redirected applicants to a separate platform managed by his private firm, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). Through this platform, applicants were charged unauthorized service fees ranging from $29.75 to $60, well outside the rates officially approved by the Government of Ghana under the Fees and Charges Act.

“These illicit payments went straight into Mr. Kwarteng’s personal accounts, bypassing the official systems of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the national treasury,” the Minister explained. “He operated this illegal scheme, along with unknown collaborators, for a minimum of five years—outside the knowledge of the Ministry or Parliament.”

In a decisive response to the revelations, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has terminated Kwarteng’s employment with immediate effect. Furthermore, the embassy’s entire IT department has been dissolved, and all local staff have been suspended pending further investigations. These steps are intended to enable a thorough review of embassy operations and to facilitate the transition toward stronger internal controls.

Minister Ablakwa also disclosed that the case has been formally referred to the Attorney-General’s Office for possible criminal prosecution. The aim is to not only bring those responsible to justice but also to recover misappropriated public funds.

The Foreign Ministry has also called on the Auditor-General to conduct a forensic audit of the embassy’s financial transactions. This deeper probe will determine the full scope of the financial losses and identify any additional individuals involved in the scheme.

The temporary shutdown of the embassy is expected to last several days, during which time officials will implement a full-scale restructuring of the mission’s systems. This will include the introduction of enhanced oversight mechanisms, better digital safeguards, and a new staff vetting process.

“The decision to close the embassy has been made in full consultation with President John Dramani Mahama, who supports the immediate need for reform,” the Minister stated. He stressed that this drastic move is a reflection of the administration’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption, especially within Ghana’s diplomatic institutions.

While the closure has disrupted consular services, including visa and passport processing, the Ministry has assured Ghanaian citizens in the United States that services will resume once restructuring is complete. In the interim, affected individuals have been encouraged to contact the Foreign Affairs Ministry directly for urgent assistance.

This unprecedented step to shut down a foreign mission amid a corruption scandal is seen as a clear signal that no public office is above scrutiny. It also underscores the government’s determination to uphold transparency, restore trust, and enforce accountability within all sectors of public service.