The Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., USA, will be closed for a few days from Monday, 26 May 2025, as part of a restructuring and systems overhaul after uncovering a major corruption scandal.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the closure alongside a series of strict measures after a special audit revealed fraudulent activities involving the embassy's IT department. "The embassy shall be closed for a few days as we finalise the ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul," Ablakwa said, adding that the Auditor-General has been invited to conduct a forensic examination of all financial transactions at the embassy.
With the firm support of President Mahama, I have carried out the following drastic and decisive actions following the damming findings of a special audit team i put together a couple of months ago to investigate alleged corrupt practices at Ghana's embassy in Washington DC:1)…- Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) May 26, 2025 He added that the audit aims to determine the total cost of the elaborate fraudulent scheme perpetrated over several years.
The investigation uncovered that a local staff member, Mr Fred Kwarteng, had created an unauthorised link on the embassy website, diverting applicants to his company where illegal fees were charged.
