Ghana’s Embassy in Washington Rocked by $4.8 Million Fraud Scandal: Foreign Affairs Minister Demands Forensic Audit.
Ghana's Embassy in the U.S lost approximately $4.8 million annually to a fraudulent scheme allegedly orchestrated by a former IT officer, Fred Kwarteng.
Damian Owusu 
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been thrust into the spotlight following revelations that the country’s embassy in Washington, D.C. lost approximately $4.8 million annually to a fraudulent scheme allegedly orchestrated by a former IT officer, Fred Kwarteng.
Addressing Parliament on June 18, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed that Kwarteng, who was employed at the mission since 2017, operated a parallel enterprise under the name Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC). The company, which he owned, was contracted to handle courier services for visa and passport dispatch—despite Kwarteng’s conflict of interest and lack of legal employment status in the U.S.
According to the minister, GTC charged applicants between $60 and $100 for form assistance and $29.75 for courier services, with nearly 99% of applicants using the service. Conservative estimates suggest Kwarteng raked in $4.8 million annually, none of which was remitted to the ministry.
The scheme was uncovered by a Special Audit Team formed by the ministry, which found evidence of fraud, conflict of interest, and systemic corruption. In response, the embassy was temporarily shut down on May 26, 2025, and staff recalled to Accra for restructuring.
Minister Ablakwa has formally requested the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Attorney-General to investigate and prosecute Kwarteng and his collaborators. The ministry is also working with U.S. authorities to freeze accounts linked to the illicit operation.
This scandal has reignited calls for tighter oversight of Ghana’s diplomatic missions and raised questions about internal controls, transparency, and accountability in foreign service operations.
