Ghana has temporarily closed its embassy in Washington, D.C., following serious allegations of corruption and misconduct within the diplomatic mission.
The announcement was made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on Monday, May 26, 2025.
The closure is part of a broader effort to restructure and overhaul the embassy’s operations after a special audit uncovered a prolonged fraudulent scheme. Ablakwa described the decision as unfortunate but necessary to restore trust and accountability.
“The decisive actions taken, with strong backing from President Mahama, come after damning findings from the audit team I commissioned months ago to investigate corrupt activities at the Washington embassy,” Ablakwa stated.
Central to the scandal is Fred Kwarteng, an IT staff member hired locally in August 2017.
Kwarteng admitted to installing an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website that redirected visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). Applicants were charged fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 without approval from the Ministry or Parliament.
These illicit payments were funneled directly into Kwarteng’s personal account. The fraudulent activity is believed to have gone on for at least five years without detection. The case has been referred to the Attorney-General for prosecution and efforts to recover the misappropriated funds.
In response, all Foreign Ministry personnel assigned to the embassy have been recalled to Accra. The embassy’s IT department has been disbanded, and all locally hired staff suspended pending further investigations. The Auditor-General is now conducting a full forensic audit to assess the total financial loss to the government.
While the closure may inconvenience Ghanaians and foreigners seeking consular services, Ablakwa stressed that such firm action is crucial to cleanse the system.
“President Mahama’s administration remains committed to zero tolerance for corruption, conflicts of interest, and abuse of office,” he affirmed.
