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Ghana's Washington DC Embassy issues over 800 visas after resuming operation
Ghana's Washington DC Embassy issues over 800 visas after resuming operation
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Ghana’s Embassy in Washington DC resumed operations on Thursday, May 29, and has already processed more than 800 visas within its first 24 hours, according to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Sharing an update on X, the minister praised the embassy's swift turnaround since reopening:
“From the briefing I have received, our reopened embassy in Washington DC issued over 800 visas yesterday on the first day of resumption. I expect this level of efficiency, professionalism and integrity to continue.”
The embassy was temporarily closed on May 26 following a corruption scandal involving a locally recruited staff member, Fred Kwarteng. The closure, which lasted for three days, allowed for a complete systems overhaul and staff reshuffle, including the recall of all Foreign Affairs Ministry staff stationed there and the suspension of all locally hired personnel.
The reopening came after a fresh team of seasoned diplomats, led by an unnamed senior envoy, was tasked with managing affairs at the mission. Minister Ablakwa commended the newly deployed staff for hitting the ground running:
"This is testament that Ghanaian diplomats excel when provided with the right ecosystem and leadership."
He further applauded their role in enforcing what he called “our systems overhaul and institutional fumigation.”
Responding to concerns that the reopening might have created job opportunities for political loyalists, the minister pushed back:
“We have an adequate stock of distinguished and astute diplomats to lead ongoing reforms — this patriotic consequential reset agenda aimed at restoring the image of our diplomatic missions abroad cannot be reduced to ‘jobs for the boys.’”
The root of the temporary shutdown traces back to Fred Kwarteng, a local IT staffer employed in 2017. Investigations allege that he created a covert link on the embassy’s website, which redirected visa and passport applicants to his private business, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). From there, he charged additional, unauthorized fees ranging from US$29.75 to US$60 per applicant, funneling proceeds into his own account.
"The investigations reveal that he and his collaborators operated this illegal scheme for at least 5 years," Ablakwa stated.
Following these revelations, Kwarteng was dismissed, and the matter referred to Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine for possible prosecution and recovery of funds. Additionally, the Auditor-General has been engaged to conduct a forensic audit to determine the financial losses incurred by the state.
Adding another layer to the scandal, Ablakwa disclosed that an unauthorized 2023 agreement between Kwarteng and a top embassy official has been nullified. He noted that further actions, including the freezing of accounts, will be shared in detail during his upcoming address to Parliament.
The minister’s decision to shut down the mission, however, has attracted scrutiny from some Members of Parliament. Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, described the move as rash and diplomatically risky due to a lack of parliamentary consultation.
"...the Minority Caucus will initiate efforts to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to explain his actions regarding the closure of the Embassy,” she announced at a joint parliamentary briefing on May 28.
Despite these concerns, the Majority Caucus has thrown its support behind the minister. Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hon. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, defended the shutdown as necessary:
“The Minister has followed information from the Embassy concerning frontline activities, corrupt practices, and made that decision to close the Embassy to ensure that we reset activities… to the highest professional levels."
