By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., reopens Thursday, May 29, 2025, following a temporary closure by the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, early this week.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the mission is now resuming full consular services with enhanced integrity measures and a newly deployed team of diplomats.
The closure on Monday followed revelations that a locally recruited IT staff member had created an unauthorised link on the embassy’s website, redirecting visa and passport applicants to a private company where they were charged unapproved fees.
This fraudulent scheme reportedly operated undetected for several years. In response, all home-based staff were recalled, and local staff were suspended pending further investigations.
To address the breach, an Information Technology team has reconfigured the embassy’s website and payment platforms, eliminating all unofficial and unauthorised links.
A new team of seasoned diplomats, led by a senior officer from the Ministry, has been tasked with overseeing the mission’s operations, implementing structural reforms, and restoring public trust.
The Ministry has reported the circumstances leading to the closure to the Auditor-General and the Attorney-General for further action and appropriate sanctions.
It has also assured the public that measures have been put in place to clear any service backlogs and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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