Foreign ministry gives date for reopening of Ghana embassy in US amid scandal

Ghana Embassy in the US to Reopen on May 29 Amid Scandal

The Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C. will reopen on Thursday, May 29. It will resume full consular services after a temporary closure. This closure was due to a corruption scandal.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was released on May 27. It announced that experienced diplomats will manage the embassy. There will be a complete overhaul of the embassy's operations.

An Information Technology team has been deployed for improvements. They will reconfigure the website and payment systems. This aims to eliminate unofficial links associated with the embassy's IT system.

The embassy closed after discovering potential abuse of office and fraud. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made this announcement. He identified Fred Kwarteng, an IT staff member, as involved in the scheme.

Kwarteng created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website. This link redirected applicants to his private firm for fees up to $60. The scheme reportedly lasted at least five years and is under investigation by the Attorney-General for possible prosecution.