Ghana Closes Washington Embassy over Visa Fraud Scandal
Ghana Closes Washington Embassy over Explosive Visa Fraud Scandal
Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. has been temporarily shut down as part of a sweeping investigation into a visa and passport fraud scheme that allegedly defrauded applicants for years.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement on Monday, citing what he described as “deeply troubling” revelations uncovered by a special audit task force.
According to the minister, a locally hired embassy staffer, in collaboration with unnamed accomplices, ran a secret scheme where visa and passport applicants were redirected from the official embassy website to an unauthorized third-party platform. There, they were charged inflated, unapproved fees—ranging from $30 to $60—for services the government did not sanction.
“This corrupt network created a fake system that preyed on unsuspecting applicants while pocketing the funds privately,” Ablakwa disclosed.
The fraudulent operation is believed to have gone undetected for nearly five years. The Foreign Minister confirmed that the illegally obtained money was never deposited into any government account, and the entire operation bypassed official oversight.
“This criminal conduct has been formally reported to the Attorney General for prosecution and recovery of stolen funds,” he said.
In response, all locally employed staff at the embassy have been suspended, and Ghanaian diplomatic officials stationed there have been recalled to Accra for further investigation.
Minister Ablakwa added that the closure of the embassy would be brief—lasting only a few days—while a complete overhaul of operations and strict accountability measures are implemented.
He stressed the government’s firm stance: “The administration of President John Mahama will not tolerate corruption, abuse of office, or conflict of interest in any form.”
The embassy is expected to reopen only after new structures are put in place to ensure transparency and restore public trust.
