Foreign Affairs Minister Acts Swiftly in Washington Embassy Corruption Scandal
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has taken bold and decisive action in response to a major corruption scandal uncovered at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C.
On Monday, May 26, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa announced the immediate dismissal of Mr. Fred Kwarteng, a locally hired staff member who was found to be at the center of a fraudulent visa and passport processing scheme.
Kwarteng, who joined the embassy’s IT department in August 2017, allegedly created an unauthorized link on the official embassy website. This link redirected applicants to his private firm, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where they were illegally charged additional fees ranging from US$29.75 to US$60—charges not sanctioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fraudulent scheme may have operated for at least five years. The matter has since been referred to the Attorney-General for potential prosecution, and efforts are underway to recover misappropriated funds.
“This conduct represents a grave breach of public trust,” said Minister Ablakwa. “It will be met with the full force of the law.”
In response to the findings, the Minister has implemented a series of immediate measures to safeguard the integrity of Ghana’s diplomatic operations:
- Dismissal of Fred Kwarteng
- Recall of all Foreign Affairs staff stationed at the Washington, D.C. embassy
- Suspension of all locally recruited staff
- Dissolution of the embassy’s IT department
These sweeping actions are intended to prevent further abuse, enable a thorough review, and pave the way for structural reforms at the embassy.
While expressing regret for any inconvenience caused to visa and passport applicants, Mr. Ablakwa underscored the government’s firm stance on integrity and accountability.
“President Mahama’s administration is unwavering in its zero-tolerance policy on corruption and abuse of office. Public institutions must be held to the highest standards.”
Further investigations and a comprehensive audit are expected to follow as part of ongoing efforts to restore confidence in Ghana’s foreign missions.
