Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has dismissed Fred Kwarteng from the IT Department at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, over a visa and passport scam.
Kwarteng, hired on August 11, 2017, allegedly set up an unauthorised link on the embassy’s website, redirecting visa and passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC).
There, he charged unapproved fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 per applicant, violating the Fees and Charges Act.
“His illegal extra charges, which were not approved by the ministry and parliament as required under the Fees and Charges Act range from US$29.75 to US$60 per applicant,” Ablakwa wrote on X.
The audit report and Kwarteng’s own admission exposed the scheme, which operated for over five years, with all funds allegedly diverted into his personal account.
“With the firm support of President Mahama, I have carried out the following drastic and decisive actions following the damning findings of a special audit team…” Ablakwa stated, confirming the dismissal on X.
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
