Ghana’s embassy in Washington to reopen May 29 after corruption scandal

Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., will reopen on May 29, 2025. This comes after a recent corruption scandal led to its closure.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, ordered the temporary shutdown on May 26. He discovered widespread financial malpractice and abuse of office at the Embassy.

Fred Kwarteng, an IT staff member hired in August 2017, is central to the scandal. Kwarteng admitted to manipulating the Embassy’s website. He created an unauthorized link that redirected visa and passport applicants to his private business, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). Applicants were charged unapproved fees between $29.75 and $60. These payments bypassed official channels and went into his personal account.

Initial findings suggest this scheme may have gone undetected for five years. The Ministry has sent an internal IT team to dismantle all unofficial digital infrastructure. They aim to restore control over the Embassy’s online platforms.

A new team of diplomats will lead operations at the Mission. This team includes a senior Foreign Affairs official overseeing a full structural overhaul. According to a Ministry statement on May 27, reopening will start sweeping reforms for credibility and transparency.

The Ministry confirmed that the incident has been reported to both the Auditor-General and Attorney-General for further investigation and potential legal action.

Meanwhile, steps are being taken to address the service backlog caused by the shutdown. The Ministry apologized for any inconvenience caused. They encourage the public to reach out for assistance through provided contacts.