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Ghana's Embassy in Washington DC to be reopened in 48 hours
Ghana's Embassy in Washington DC to be reopened in 48 hours
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Ghana’s diplomatic mission in Washington DC, United States, is set to reopen on Thursday, May 29, just three days after its sudden closure due to a major corruption scandal.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the reopening in a statement issued on May 27, stating that new measures had been implemented to restore normal operations. The shutdown, announced on May 26 by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, followed revelations of fraudulent activities allegedly orchestrated by Mr. Fred Kwarteng, a locally hired IT staff member at the embassy.
In light of the scandal, all Ghanaian staff stationed at the Washington mission were immediately recalled, the IT department was dissolved, and all locally recruited staff suspended. According to the ministry, a team of experienced diplomats, led by a senior envoy, has now been deployed to take charge of the embassy and supervise a complete system overhaul.
The statement indicated that this new team would spearhead ongoing structural reforms and work to “restore integrity in the Embassy’s operations.” Additionally, an Information Technology team has been dispatched to reconfigure the embassy's website and payment systems, eliminating all unofficial and unauthorized links previously embedded in its digital infrastructure.
Regarding service delays caused by the closure, the ministry assured the public that steps had been taken to address any backlog. “Any inconvenience resulting from our necessary interventions is deeply regretted,” it said.
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Details of the misconduct
Investigations revealed that Mr. Fred Kwarteng, employed on August 11, 2017, allegedly built an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website. The link redirected passport and visa applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where he imposed unapproved charges ranging between $29.75 and $60 per person. These fees, collected without the knowledge of the Ministry and without parliamentary approval as required under the Fees and Charges Act, were allegedly deposited into Mr. Kwarteng’s personal account.
Minister Ablakwa disclosed, “The investigations reveal that he and his collaborators operated this illegal scheme for at least 5 years.”
Mr. Kwarteng has since been dismissed, with his conduct referred to the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, for potential prosecution and recovery of all fraudulently acquired funds. The Auditor-General has also been tasked to conduct a forensic audit of all related transactions.
Public reactions
The embassy’s temporary closure triggered mixed reactions, particularly regarding the mode of communication. Critics questioned why the announcement was made on the minister’s personal Facebook page instead of through an official government release.
“This is a very damning thing. You just do not go on your Facebook page and put a thing like that there. Issue an official statement and sign it, or use your PR office and explain what you found and that it is being investigated further. Then it becomes a government statement. But putting it on your Facebook makes you open yourself up for some of this attack,” said Larry Dogbey, Managing Editor of The Herald newspaper.
Others, however, commended the Foreign Minister’s swift intervention in addressing the issue and preventing further damage.
“It is justified to commend Honourable Ablakwa for taking a step to nip whatever it is in the bud immediately before it blows out of proportion. People may have different views on what they think should be the appropriate approach, either based on interest, expertise, or political convenience, but at the moment, there can only be one approach to resolving the matter, which he is prepared to apply,” said Elikem Kotoko, National Deputy Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and efficient service delivery, pledging to protect Ghana’s international image and diplomatic reputation.
