Could 27, 2025
Ghana’s International Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, introduced the non permanent closure of its D.C. embassy to restructure after fraud.
On Could 26, Ghana’s International Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, introduced the non permanent closure of the nation’s embassy.
The Washington, D.C. embassy was shut down following the invention of a visa and passport fraud scheme. An inner audit uncovered {that a} regionally recruited employees member, Fred Kwarteng, orchestrated a fraud operation. The operation is alleged to have occurred over 5 years, the BBC reported.
Kwarteng and his collaborators created an unauthorized hyperlink on the embassy’s visa web site. The hyperlink redirected candidates to Ghana Journey Consultants. Subsequently, candidates have been charged unapproved charges starting from $30 to $60 by Ghana Journey Guide’s providers, which ought to have been processed immediately by the embassy.
The false visa transaction proceeds have been then funneled to employees members’ non-public accounts. In response to those findings, Minister Ablakwa made a submit on Fb detailing the scheme and subsequent actions by the federal government. Ghana’s overseas ministry denies data of the scheme and lays the blame at Kwarteng’s toes. In accordance with the federal government, the workers’ actions are “illicit” and unapproved.
The Ghanaian-Washington D.C.-recruited employees have been suspended. The overseas ministry personnel in Washington have been recalled to Ghana. The Ghanaian embassy closure is anticipated to final a couple of days to facilitate a complete restructuring and programs overhaul. Stopping future misconduct is the aim of the closure.
The matter has been referred to the lawyer basic for potential prosecution. The lawyer basic will even search reimbursement for the stolen funds. Ablakwa pressured that the Ghanaian authorities is dedicated to zero tolerance for corruption and abuse of workplace.
Although the federal government is taking accountability and disciplining its workers, different Ghanaian officers are taking exception to the Fb press launch. Deputy Rating Member on the International Affairs Committee, Nana Kwame Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, reported the issues of many Ghanaian officers.
Ayeh believes that swift motion to make a press release can break the nation’s fame.
“You suppose stakeholders — just like the U.S. authorities — could be snug coping with an embassy that Ghana’s personal minister has declared fraudulent? This is the reason we insist the minister’s method was flawed.”
Whether or not the federal government has taken successful on its fame resulting from these occasions stays to be seen.
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