Embassy Scandal: How staff diverted visa and passport fees into private account in Washington DC

Fred Kwarteng, a local staff recruited in 2017 to work at the embassy is reported by the minister to have illegally diverted visa and passport applicants into his privately owned company called Ghana Travel Consultants.

According to Ablakwa, Kwarteng upon interrogation admitted to using his private company to charge extra fees for multiple services without the knowledge of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and additionally kept the entire revenue generated in his private account.

“Mr Kwarteng was a local staff recruited on August 11, 2017 to work in the embassy’s IT department. According to findings and his own admission, he created an unauthorised link on the embassy’s website which diverted visa and passport applicants to his company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC) where he charged extra for multiple services on the blind side of the ministry and kept the entire proceeds in his private account,” the minister indicated on Monday, May 26, 2025.

The fees charged by Kwarteng were not approved by either the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Parliament, thereby constituting a violation of 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 ranges from US$29.75 to US$60 per applicant. The Investigations reveal that he and his collaborators operated this illegal scheme for at least 5 years,” the statement added.

Ablakwa added that, in addition to the individual’s dismissal, the matter has been referred to the Attorney General for further punitive action.

He also emphasised that all funds illicitly obtained by Kwarteng through his private company will be recovered.

“This conduct has been reported to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes,” he added.

Meanwhile, the embassy has been officially shut down to allow for a comprehensive restructuring process. As part of this effort, some staff members have also been suspended, while others have been recalled to Ghana.

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