After a brief shutdown sparked by a major corruption scandal, Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. is set to resume operations on Thursday, May 29, 2025, with a new leadership team and a slate of integrity-driven reforms.
The reopening follows a decisive move by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who ordered the temporary closure on Monday, May 26, to facilitate investigations into financial impropriety and abuse of office at the diplomatic mission.
At the center of the scandal is Fred Kwarteng, an IT staff member employed in 2017, who confessed to diverting visa and passport applicants to his private firm, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), through an unauthorized link embedded on the Embassy’s website. Over the past five years, unsuspecting applicants were charged illicit fees ranging between $29.75 and $60—funds that were not approved by the Ministry or sanctioned under the Fees Act.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 27, the Ministry announced that a new team of diplomats, headed by a senior official from Accra, will assume charge at the Mission as part of a comprehensive overhaul of operations and digital infrastructure.
An IT task force has already begun reconfiguring the Embassy’s website, removing all unauthorized payment portals and strengthening cybersecurity protocols to prevent future exploitation.
“The reopening signals not just a resumption of services, but a rebirth of accountability and professionalism,” the Ministry noted, adding that the issues leading to the shutdown have been formally referred to the Auditor-General and Attorney-General for further investigation and possible prosecution.
To restore public confidence, the Ministry promised swift clearance of service backlogs and reinforced its commitment to transparency, improved service delivery, and safeguarding the country’s international image.
The Embassy can be reached at [email protected] or +233 240 793 072 for further inquiries.
