Minister for Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has officially submitted a detailed report to Parliament on the ongoing reforms and investigations at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., following recent revelations of corruption.
The submission, made on Wednesday, June 18, outlines findings from a special audit and a wide-ranging institutional restructuring effort aimed at restoring integrity to the diplomatic mission.
According to excerpts shared by the Minister via Facebook, the report reveals a “complex web of corruption” centered around an individual named Fred Kwarteng and a company known as Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC).
“Mr. Speaker, the special audit team I set up—composed of senior Ministry officials—uncovered corruption that compromised the integrity and efficiency of the Embassy’s operations,” the report stated.
“It has also emerged that Mr. Fred Kwarteng was not qualified to be employed as a local as he does not possess the appropriate legal status to be employed in the USA.” the report further stated.
The audit uncovered fraud, conflict of interest, and unauthorized activities, ultimately resulting in Kwarteng’s dismissal and the recall of multiple staff members.
It also highlighted that Fred Kwarteng lacked the legal status to be employed in the United States, making his engagement at the Embassy both inappropriate and unlawful.
Following these findings, Ghana’s Washington mission was temporarily closed last month. Since then, a “surgical institutional overhaul” has been initiated, including IT system upgrades, new operational protocols, and staff reorganization. According to the report, operations at the mission are now stabilizing.
The Minister assured Parliament that investigations are ongoing and reiterated the government’s commitment to prosecuting all involved and ensuring accountability across Ghana’s foreign missions.
Parliament is expected to deliberate further on the report in the coming day.
By: Kobina Baidoo
