The Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, will reopen its doors on Thursday, May 29, 2025, following a temporary closure prompted by a major IT breach and internal audit that exposed a long-running scheme to divert consular fees.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration announced that a team of seasoned diplomats and an advanced Information Technology (IT) team has been deployed to oversee a complete systems overhaul and restore integrity to the embassy’s operations.

“A team of seasoned diplomats, led by an astute diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been tasked to run the Mission to ensure a total systems overhaul, restore integrity in the Embassy's operations, and complete ongoing structural reforms,” the statement read.

The embassy was shut down on May 26, 2026, following the discovery of fraudulent activities linked to one Fred Kwarteng, a locally recruited IT officer.

According to reports, Kwarteng allegedly operated an unauthorised third-party platform, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), which redirected applicants seeking passport and visa services and charged them illegal fees ranging from $29.75 to $60.

These payments were reportedly deposited directly into his personal account and the operation is believed to have run undetected for five years.

In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled its staff from Washington, disbanded the embassy’s IT department, and suspended all locally recruited personnel pending further investigation.

The Attorney General’s Department has also initiated steps to recover misappropriated funds and prosecute those implicated.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General has been tasked with conducting a comprehensive forensic audit to assess the financial impact of the breach.

As part of the reopening, embassy operations are expected to be more efficient and secure.

Additionally, the revamped IT infrastructure will eliminate all unauthorised access points, safeguarding Ghanaians abroad against potential fraud in the future.

The new setup, according to the ministry, is expected to streamline services for visa applications, passport renewals, and other consular needs, which have long been plagued by inefficiencies.

“These proactive measures are essential in restoring accountability and ensuring that our missions abroad operate at the highest standards,” the Ministry noted.

NAD/MA