Ghana closes Washington embassy temporarily for overhaul amid fraud probe
The Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., USA, will be closed for a few days from Monday, 26 May 2025, as part of a restructuring and systems overhaul after uncovering a major corruption scandal.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the closure alongside a series of strict measures after a special audit revealed fraudulent activities involving the embassy’s IT department.
“The embassy shall be closed for a few days as we finalise the ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul,” Ablakwa said, adding that the Auditor-General has been invited to conduct a forensic examination of all financial transactions at the embassy.
He added that the audit aims to determine the total cost of the elaborate fraudulent scheme perpetrated over several years.
The investigation uncovered that a local staff member, Mr Fred Kwarteng, had created an unauthorised link on the embassy website, diverting applicants to his company where illegal fees were charged.
These fees, which were not approved under the Fees and Charges Act, ranged between US$29.75 and US$60 per applicant, according to Ablakwa’s statement.
As part of the crackdown, all Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel posted at the embassy have been recalled, and all locally recruited staff suspended.
The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved to halt further misconduct and restore integrity to its operations.
