The Washington, D.C. Ghana embassy has resumed operations with a wave of optimism following a high-profile scandal that forced its temporary closure.
As part of a broader mission to restore integrity to Ghana’s diplomatic services, Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has confirmed that more than 800 visas were issued on May 29, 2025—the first day of the embassy’s reopening.
The announcement marked a turning point in the embassy visa scandal, which previously shook public confidence in the nation’s foreign service institutions.
“Let me commend our fresh team of seasoned diplomats for the great job so far in implementing our systems overhaul and institutional fumigation. This is a testament that Ghanaian diplomats excel when provided with the right ecosystem and leadership.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
He assured the public that there has been no new recruitment to replace staff implicated in the recent controversy. Rather than hiring fresh personnel, the Ministry has relied on the redeployment of seasoned diplomats already within the service.
The Minister indicated that this strategic reallocation ensures continuity, leverages existing experience, and maintains operational efficiency during the mission’s restructuring process.
According to Ablakwa, this strategic move is intended to correct public misconceptions that the reopening effort has become a conduit for patronage appointments. “This patriotic consequential reset agenda aimed at restoring the image of our diplomatic missions abroad cannot be reduced to ‘jobs for the boys.'”
At the center of the scandal is Mr. Fred Kwarteng, a local IT staffer who joined the Washington embassy on August 11, 2017.
An internal probe and his own confession revealed that he had manipulated the embassy’s digital infrastructure to redirect visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC).
Through this unauthorized diversion, he charged additional fees for various services and deposited the proceeds into a personal account.
Parliament To Receive Briefing On Ghana Embassy
Furthermore, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa promised that more revelations would be shared when he addresses Parliament next week, including details about frozen accounts and other remedial measures aimed at restoring transparency.
Accordingly, the Minister disclosed that this illegal operation was enabled by a secretive and unauthorized agreement made in 2023 between Kwarteng and a senior embassy official.
“It is worth announcing that a recently discovered 2023 unauthorized, opaque, and illegal agreement between Fred Kwarteng and a top official at the Washington Embassy has been declared a nullity and will no longer be respected.”
Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
However, this embassy visa scandal has not gone unnoticed by political opponents. Members of the Minority recently criticized the Ministry for what they describe as a slow and opaque response.
They argued that the actions of embassy staff have tarnished Ghana’s longstanding reputation in global diplomatic circles.
Nonetheless, the resumption of operations and the immediate results from the new team seem to be changing the narrative. The issuance of over 800 visas on a single day, according to officials, is evidence that institutional reforms are bearing fruit.
Ablakwa emphasized that the embassy’s renewed performance is not just a temporary fix but part of a long-term plan to strengthen the professionalism of Ghana’s diplomatic corps.
Security measures have also been tightened, especially in digital operations. The Ministry has deployed cybersecurity experts to monitor all data traffic, identify system vulnerabilities, and ensure accountability in visa and passport processing.
Analysts believe the developments at the Washington mission may serve as a model for overhauling operations at other Ghanaian diplomatic missions worldwide.
The Minister concluded his public briefing with a message of confidence in the future of Ghana’s foreign service.
He highlighted that building integrity and institutional trust will require consistency and vigilance, but promised that his office remains committed to that goal.
As the scandal’s fallout continues and more details are expected in Parliament, the Embassy’s recovery will be closely monitored both at home and abroad.
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