Ghana has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., following the discovery of a visa fraud scheme and unauthorised payments linked to a locally hired employee, officials announced Monday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the shutdown was part of a broader effort to restore integrity and accountability in Ghana’s diplomatic missions abroad. The move comes after a special audit revealed that Fred Kwarteng, an IT officer employed at the embassy since 2017, created an unauthorised link on the embassy’s website that redirected visa and passport applicants to his private firm, Ghana Travel Consultants. Applicants were charged unofficial fees ranging from $29.75 to $60, which were deposited directly into Kwarteng’s personal bank account.
“This is part of a decisive effort to restructure and overhaul embassy operations following shocking audit findings,” Ablakwa said. “With the support of President Mahama, we are taking bold action to fight corruption and rebuild trust.”
Authorities believe the fraudulent scheme may have operated undetected for at least five years. The case has been referred to Ghana’s Attorney-General for possible prosecution and recovery of misappropriated funds.
In response to the scandal, the Foreign Ministry has recalled all staff from the Washington mission to Accra. The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved, and all locally hired employees have been suspended pending further investigation. Ablakwa said the Auditor-General would carry out a full forensic audit to assess the total financial loss to the state.
While acknowledging the inconvenience the closure may cause to both Ghanaians and foreign nationals seeking consular services, Ablakwa said the government’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption and abuse of office requires firm action.
No timeline has been provided for the embassy’s reopening. The Foreign Ministry stated that operations will resume once the restructuring and integrity measures are fully implemented.