The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has officially announced that the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C. will resume full consular and administrative services on Thursday, May 29.
In a statement released by the Ministry, it was revealed that a team of experienced diplomats, led by a senior official from the Ministry, has been assigned to oversee the operations of the Embassy. This initiative is part of a comprehensive effort to implement a complete systems overhaul and restore integrity to the Embassy’s functions.
To enhance operational efficiency, an Information Technology (IT) team has already been deployed to reconfigure the Embassy’s website and payment platforms. This upgrade aims to eliminate all unofficial and unauthorized links that were previously associated with the system.
The Embassy had been temporarily closed on Monday, May 26, following a special audit that uncovered a corruption scandal involving a local staff member, Fred Kwarteng, who worked in the IT department. Kwarteng was found to have created an unauthorized payment portal, through which he allegedly charged illegal fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 from passport applicants—fees that were not sanctioned under Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, characterized the closure as a necessary step for a “comprehensive restructuring and systems overhaul.”
The case has been referred to the Attorney-General for potential prosecution and recovery of misappropriated funds.
Additionally, the Auditor-General has been instructed to conduct a thorough forensic audit to assess the total financial loss incurred by the state.
Below is the statement:
