Ghana’s embassy in Washington to resume operations after fraud probe
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on May 27, confirmed that a new leadership team headed by an experienced diplomat has been assigned to steer the mission.
The Ghanaian Embassy in Washington D.C. is set to reopen on Thursday, May 29, following a brief closure triggered by a major internal corruption investigation. The embassy had temporarily suspended operations on May 26 after the discovery of a sophisticated IT breach linked to fraudulent activity.
Authorities say the shutdown was necessary to initiate a complete systems reset and enforce structural reforms.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on May 27, confirmed that a new leadership team headed by an experienced diplomat has been assigned to steer the mission. Their primary task: to rebuild trust, enhance transparency, and restore the operational integrity of the embassy.
A specialized IT task force has also been deployed to overhaul the embassy’s digital infrastructure. The team is working to dismantle all unauthorized access points, particularly those involved in diverting applicants to unapproved platforms.
The Ministry emphasized that efforts are underway to investigate and prosecute those responsible. The case has been formally referred to the Attorney-General’s Department for legal action and recovery of stolen funds. Concurrently, the Auditor-General will conduct a forensic audit to assess the financial damage inflicted on the state.
The scandal centers on Fred Kwarteng, an IT staffer recruited locally, who is alleged to have inserted a rogue link on the embassy's official website. This redirected users to a private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), under his control. Through this channel, visa and passport applicants were charged unauthorized fees—ranging from $29.75 to $60—that were funneled into his personal account. The illicit operation is believed to have run covertly for over five years.
In a sweeping response to the findings, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has recalled all diplomatic staff stationed in Washington D.C. back to Accra. The local IT department has been disbanded, and all non-diplomatic personnel are under suspension pending further review.
While apologizing to Ghanaians and other stakeholders for the service disruption, the Ministry underscored the importance of the reforms, stating they were vital to preserving the credibility of Ghana’s diplomatic missions worldwide.
