Ghana temporarily closes its embassy in Washington D.C., embroiled in a corruption controversy
The Ghana Embassy in Washington DC has been temporarily closed following the discovery of a long-running fraudulent scheme. Kofi Boat and two other Ghanaians have been extradited to the United States to face charges related to the scheme, which involved wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and receiving stolen money.
The fraudulent scheme, which ran from 2016 to May 2023, defrauded victims across the US and involved the violation of the Fees and Charges Act. Unapproved fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 were charged to applicants through a redirect on the embassy's website.
The link on the embassy's website was created by Fred Kwarteng, a locally hired IT staffer since 2017. The redirect led applicants to Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), a private company owned by Kwarteng. Funds were deposited into Kwarteng's personal account, bypassing government oversight.
As a result of the fraudulent scheme, all locally recruited staff have been suspended, and the embassy's IT department has been dissolved. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has referred the case to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and fund recovery.
The Ghanaian and international agencies, including Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office, Ghana Police Service – INTERPOL, Cyber Security Authority, and the National Intelligence Bureau, have been working closely to secure the extraditions and investigation. Ghana’s International Cooperation Unit of the Attorney-General’s Office also played a key role.
The case is part of a wider pattern of embassy fraud and international scams. For instance, a recent arrest in India of a man pretending to be an ambassador of a non-existent country illustrates the ongoing global threat of diplomatic fraud schemes.
The Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited the Auditor-General to conduct a forensic audit of embassy transactions. President Mahama's government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest, and blatant abuse of office.
Further legal action and structural reforms are expected as authorities dig deeper into the scope of the scandal. The Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to re-open its DC embassy on Thursday, 29th May, 2025, following a system overhaul and restructuring.
In the meantime, legal proceedings are underway in the US with potential sentences of up to 20 years if convicted. Kofi Boat and the other suspects face serious charges and could face significant prison time if found guilty. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government operations.
The fraudulent scheme, uncovered in the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC, involves politics as it revolves around the violation of the Fees and Charges Act and the abuse of office. This scheme, also linked with general-news of international scams, has led to the temporary closure of the embassy and the suspension of all locally recruited staff.
