Ghana closes Washington embassy temporarily for overhaul amid fraud probe

The Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., will close for a few days. This closure starts on Monday, 26 May 2025. It is part of a restructuring and systems overhaul. This follows a major corruption scandal.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the closure. He also introduced strict measures after an audit revealed fraud in the IT department.

“The embassy shall be closed for a few days,” Ablakwa said. He added that the Auditor-General will conduct a forensic examination of all financial transactions at the embassy.

With President Mahama's support, Ablakwa took decisive actions after the audit findings. He had formed a special audit team to investigate alleged corrupt practices at the embassy.

The audit aims to determine the total cost of fraudulent activities over several years. The investigation found that local staff member Mr. Fred Kwarteng created an unauthorized link on the embassy website. This link diverted applicants to his company, where illegal fees were charged.

These fees ranged from US$29.75 to US$60 per applicant and were not approved under the Fees and Charges Act. As part of the crackdown, all Ministry of Foreign Affairs personnel at the embassy have been recalled. All locally recruited staff have also been suspended.

Additionally, the embassy’s IT department has been dissolved to prevent further misconduct and restore integrity to its operations.