ACCRA, GHANA – Ghana’s Embassy in Washington D.C. has been temporarily closed as of today, following the immediate recall of all Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff and the suspension of locally recruited personnel. The drastic measures come after a special audit team uncovered alleged corrupt practices at the mission.

According to a statement from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the closure and internal overhaul are a direct result of “damning findings” from the audit.

A key figure in the investigation is Mr. Fred Kwarteng, a local staff member recruited in August 2017 for the embassy’s IT department.

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Mr. Kwarteng has been immediately dismissed.

Investigations revealed that he created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website, diverting visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). There, he allegedly charged applicants unauthorized extra fees ranging from US29.75 to US60 for various services, keeping the proceeds in his personal account. This illegal scheme is believed to have operated for at least five years.

The matter has been reported to the Attorney-General for potential prosecution and recovery of fraudulently obtained funds.

In addition to Mr. Kwarteng’s dismissal, the embassy’s IT department has been dissolved. The Auditor-General has been invited to conduct a forensic examination of all transactions to determine the total cost of the alleged fraudulent scheme.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs regrets any inconvenience these “radical measures” may cause to visa and passport applicants. The government, under President Mahama, reaffirms its commitment to a “zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest, and blatant abuse of office.”

The embassy is expected to reopen after a few days as restructuring and systems overhaul are finalized.