Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has delivered a scathing report to Parliament on Wednesday, exposing the massive corruption scandal that led to the temporary closure of the Ghana mission in Washington, D.C.
The minister described the situation as a web of corruption involving fraudulent visa schemes, unauthorised contracts, and a blatant betrayal of public trust.
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In a detailed 40-point briefing, Ablakwa revealed how Fred Kwarteng, an IT officer at the embassy, orchestrated a shadow business, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), which illegally monopolised visa and passport courier services. The scheme, generating an estimated $4.8 million annually, exploited unsuspecting applicants through exorbitant fees.
Kwarteng, lacking legal working status in the U.S., used his position to divert applicants to his private company for courier and form-filling services, charging $29.75 per delivery and $60 to $100 per application. Handling up to 250 packages daily, GTC processed over 62,000 transactions yearly, bypassing Ghana’s procurement laws and ministerial approval.
The minister expressed dismay that the scandal, which began in 2019, persisted under successive leaderships despite a formal query issued to Kwarteng that year. Instead of facing consequences, Kwarteng’s operations grew bolder, with GTC linked directly to the embassy’s website, leaving applicants no alternative but to use his services.
According to the Minister, President John Mahama responded decisively, ordering Kwarteng’s dismissal, recalling all Foreign Affairs Ministry staff from Washington, suspending locally recruited personnel, and initiating a forensic audit by the Auditor-General. The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Attorney-General were tasked with investigating and prosecuting those involved.
The Washington DC Embassy temporarily shut down for restructuring, reopened on May 29, 2025, under the leadership of Ambassador Jane Gasu Achto. Since resuming operations, it has processed over 4,400 visas and 3,500 passports, with extended hours until 8:00 p.m. and a revamped IT system.
Ablakwa noted that a backlog of 2,300 unprocessed visa applications has been addressed, with new biometric clock-in systems, digital tools, and secure mailing channels introduced.
While acknowledging ongoing delays with USPS, the minister assured Parliament that new tracking protocols are in place. He refuted claims of irregular recruitments, stating that only experienced Foreign Service Officers were reassigned to the mission.
Ablakwa emphasised the government’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, vowing that ongoing investigations would hold all culprits accountable. Final reports from the probes are expected soon.
By Osumanu Al-Hassan/thenewsbulletin24.com