Ghana’s embassy in Washington D.C to reopen May 29 following fraud investigation

Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that its embassy in Washington D.C. will reopen on Thursday, May 29, following a brief shutdown due to structural reforms and an ongoing investigation into fraudulent activities.

In a statement released on Tuesday, May 27, the Ministry stated that “a team of seasoned diplomats led by an astute diplomat from the Ministry has been tasked and complete ongoing structural reforms at the embassy.” This follows the temporary closure of the embassy announced by sector Minister Samuel Okudzeto on Monday, May 26, to allow for a systems overhaul.

“The embassy shall be closed for a few days from Monday, May 26, as the government finalised ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul,” the Minister said.

The shutdown was due to the findings of a special audit team which uncovered fraudulent practices involving the embassy’s visa and passport application system. Investigators revealed that Fred Kwarteng, a local staff member recruited on August 11, 2017, created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website.

According to the Ministry, “he created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website which diverted visa and passport applicants to his company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC) where he charged extra for multiple services on the blind side of the ministry and kept the entire proceeds in his private account.”

The fees he charged, ranging from $29.75 to $60, were not approved by Parliament under the Fees and Charges Act. Investigations show this illegal operation continued for at least five years.

“This conduct has been reported to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes.”

In response, the Ministry has taken several steps:

1. “All Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff posted to the Washington embassy have been recalled home with immediate effect.”

2. “The embassy’s IT department has been promptly dissolved.”

3. “All locally recruited staff at the embassy have been suspended.”

4. “The Auditor-General has been invited to conduct forensic examination of all transactions and to determine the total cost of this elaborate fraudulent scheme.”

The Ministry regrets any inconvenience caused by the measures, adding that “President Mahama’s government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest and blatant abuse of office.”