In a decisive move to combat corruption, President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his full support behind Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, following the exposure of a major fraud scheme at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, DC.
A recent audit uncovered significant irregularities involving Mr. Fred Kwarteng, a local staff member hired in August 2017. Kwarteng has been dismissed after allegedly orchestrating an illegal operation that diverted visa and passport processing fees into his personal account.
According to the audit, Kwarteng created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website, which redirected applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). There, applicants were charged additional, unauthorized fees ranging from $29.75 to $60—an apparent violation of Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act.
Investigators believe the fraudulent scheme may have persisted for at least five years. The case has now been referred to the Attorney-General’s office for potential prosecution and the recovery of misappropriated funds.
In swift response to the revelations, Minister Ablakwa has implemented a series of firm measures to restore accountability and prevent future abuses:
- Immediate dismissal of Mr. Fred Kwarteng.
- Recall of all Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff from the Washington DC mission.
- Dissolution of the embassy’s IT department.
- Suspension of all locally recruited staff.
- Request for a forensic audit by the Auditor-General to determine the full extent of financial losses.
- Temporary closure of the embassy to allow for restructuring and improvements to internal systems.
“These steps are necessary,” Ablakwa stated, “to restore integrity, transparency, and public trust.” He reaffirmed the Mahama administration’s commitment to a strict zero-tolerance policy on corruption and abuse of office.
Visa and passport services will resume once the restructuring process is complete and robust new systems are in place.
