Fred Kwarteng, a local staff at the Ghana embassy in Washington DC has been exposed for diverting visa and passport fees into private accounts.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Fred Kwarteng illegally diverted visa and passport applicants into his company Ghana Travel Consultants.
In a post on X, Ablakwa revealed that through President Mahama’s support, a special audit team was put together a couple of months ago to investigate alleged corrupt practices at Ghana’s embassy in Washington DC.
He wrote, “ The immediate dismissal of Mr. Fred Kwarteng. Mr Kwarteng was a local staff recruited on August 11, 2017 to work in the embassy’s IT department. According to findings and his own admission, he created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website which diverted visa and passport applicants to his company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC) where he charged extra for multiple services on the blind side of the ministry and kept the entire proceeds in his private account.
His illegal extra charges which were not approved by the ministry and parliament as required under the Fees and Charges Act ranges from US$29.75 to US$60 per applicant. The Investigations reveal that he and his collaborators operated this illegal scheme for at least 5 years.
This conduct has been reported to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes”.
His post added, “All Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff posted to the Washington embassy have been recalled home with immediate effect.
The embassy’s IT department has been promptly dissolved. All locally recruited staff at the embassy have been suspended”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also revealed the closure of Ghana’s embassy in Washington DC over alleged corrupt practices by staff.
According to Ablakwa, Ghana’s embassy in Washington DC would be closed for a few days from today as they finalize the ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul.
The sector minister further apologised for any inconvenience these radical measures may cause visa and passport applicants.
He further added that President Mahama’s government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest and blatant abuse of office.
See the post below:
With the firm support of President Mahama, I have carried out the following drastic and decisive actions following the damming findings of a special audit team i put together a couple of months ago to investigate alleged corrupt practices at Ghana’s embassy in Washington DC:
1)…
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) May 26, 2025
