by Kandiss Edwards
Might 27, 2025
Ghana’s Overseas Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, introduced the short-term closure of its D.C. embassy to restructure after fraud.
On Might 26, Ghana’s Overseas Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, introduced the short-term closure of the nation’s embassy.
The Washington, D.C. embassy was shut down following the invention of a visa and passport fraud scheme. An inside audit uncovered {that a} domestically recruited workers member, Fred Kwarteng, orchestrated a fraud operation. The operation is alleged to have occurred over 5 years, the BBC reported.
Kwarteng and his collaborators created an unauthorized hyperlink on the embassy’s visa web site. The hyperlink redirected candidates to Ghana Journey Consultants. Subsequently, candidates had been charged unapproved charges starting from $30 to $60 by Ghana Journey Marketing consultant’s companies, which ought to have been processed immediately by the embassy.
The false visa transaction proceeds had been then funneled to workers members’ non-public accounts. In response to those findings, Minister Ablakwa made a put up on Fb detailing the scheme and subsequent actions by the federal government. Ghana’s overseas ministry denies information of the scheme and lays the blame at Kwarteng’s toes. In keeping with the federal government, the staff’ actions are “illicit” and unapproved.
The Ghanaian-Washington D.C.-recruited workers have been suspended. The overseas ministry personnel in Washington have been recalled to Ghana. The Ghanaian embassy closure is predicted to final just a few days to facilitate a complete restructuring and techniques overhaul. Stopping future misconduct is the objective of the closure.
The matter has been referred to the lawyer basic for potential prosecution. The lawyer basic can even search reimbursement for the stolen funds. Ablakwa confused that the Ghanaian authorities is dedicated to zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of workplace.
Although the federal government is taking accountability and disciplining its staff, different Ghanaian officers are taking exception to the Fb press launch. Deputy Rating Member on the Overseas Affairs Committee, Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, reported the issues of many Ghanaian officers.
Ayeh believes that swift motion to make an announcement can spoil the nation’s fame.
“You assume stakeholders — just like the U.S. authorities — can be comfy coping with an embassy that Ghana’s personal minister has declared fraudulent? This is the reason we insist the minister’s strategy was flawed.”
Whether or not the federal government has taken a success on its fame as a consequence of these occasions stays to be seen.
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