Ghana Embassy in Washington D.C. Closed Due to Embezzlement Scandal

Ghana's Embassy in Washington D.C. Temporarily Shuts Down Amidst Visa Fee Embezzlement Scandal Ghana's embassy in Washington D.C. has been temporarily closed following a shocking discovery of embezzlement within its ranks. An internal investigation revealed that Fred Kwarteng, an IT employee, had been siphoning off visa and passport application fees for more than five years. Kwarteng allegedly created a fraudulent link on the embassy's official website, directing applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where they paid inflated fees. "The investigation uncovered a sophisticated scheme that defrauded numerous visa applicants," stated Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana's Foreign Minister, in a press conference on Monday, May 26th. He further confirmed that Kwarteng, who has since been dismissed, "kept the entire proceeds" in his personal account. This illegal activity violated Ghanaian law, which mandates that any additional charges on immigration services must receive prior approval from the Foreign Ministry or Parliament. Neither body had authorized Kwarteng's actions. The Ghanaian government has expressed regret to affected visa and passport applicants and assures them that steps are underway to rectify the situation. The investigation report has been submitted to the Attorney General for possible prosecution and the retrieval of the misappropriated funds. The temporary closure of the embassy will allow for a forensic examination of all transactions. While inconvenient, this decisive action demonstrates Ghana's commitment to transparency and accountability.