By Issah Olegor
The controversy surrounding alleged fraud at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. has taken a new twist as the man at the center of the scandal, Fred Kwarteng, the embassy’s dismissed head of Information Technology (IT), has publicly denied any wrongdoing and challenged key details put forth by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen program, Kwarteng broke his silence for the first time since his abrupt dismissal, refuting corruption claims and casting doubt on the minister’s official narrative — particularly regarding his employment timeline and the nature of the IT systems he developed.
Timeline Dispute Emerges
According to Okudzeto Ablakwa, Kwarteng was recruited on August 11, 2017, and was recently dismissed for setting up an unauthorized online portal that diverted visa and passport applicants to a private company he owned — Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC).
But Kwarteng insists that the Ministry’s claim is inaccurate.
“My official temporary contract began on December 16, 2016, and that’s clearly stated in my employment records,” he said.
He further revealed that he had worked with the embassy on various IT projects between 2013 and 2016, before being formally contracted.
The Daily Gist is informed that he was initially engaged as an artisan, carrying out plumbing works before veering to IT.
“Even the termination letter I received from the embassy confirms December 16, 2016, as my start date. I don’t know why the Minister would state otherwise,” he added.
Alleged Unauthorized Portal
Ablakwa’s revelations on May 26, made via social media, alleged that Kwarteng created a separate payment portal embedded on the embassy’s official website.
The portal redirected users seeking consular services — particularly visa and passport processing — to Kwarteng’s private enterprise, which allegedly charged between $29.75 and $60 per transaction, outside the legally approved framework of Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act.
In what he described as a breach of trust and an egregious abuse of office, Ablakwa announced that the proceeds from these transactions went into Kwarteng’s private account, and the practice continued for at least five years, unbeknownst to the Ministry.
Kwarteng, however, denies the criminal intent.
“The system I built was designed to solve internal challenges at the embassy, especially delays in processing and inefficiencies in consular services. I did this out of necessity and without charging the embassy a dime,” he said.
He maintained that the system was never meant to defraud applicants or the state and challenged the basis of the Ministry’s audit.
“I haven’t seen the full audit report they keep referencing. On May 19, a delegation came to question me about the portal, and I explained everything in detail,” he noted.
Dismissal
Kwarteng confirmed he has since received a letter of dismissal signed by the Acting Head of Mission in Washington, but said he has had no direct engagement with Ablakwa.
“I am still in the United States. No one from the Ministry has questioned me formally, and I’ve not been informed of any official investigation here,” he said.
The Ministry’s reaction to the findings has been swift and sweeping. Aside from Kwarteng’s dismissal, all locally recruited staff at the embassy were suspended, the IT department dissolved, and all Foreign Service officers recalled.
The embassy itself was temporarily shut down on May 26 and only reopened on May 29 following a restructuring directive from President John Mahama’s administration.
Ablakwa defended the aggressive measures, stating, “This government has zero tolerance for corruption, conflict of interest, and abuse of office. The embassy needed a complete overhaul.”
Political and Diplomatic Backlash
The Minority in Parliament has condemned the Ministry’s approach, calling it “populist” and “diplomatically reckless.”
Samuel Jinapor, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the decision to announce the embassy closure via Facebook, rather than through proper diplomatic channels.
“The closure of one of Ghana’s most strategic foreign missions on social media, without due protocol, is deeply embarrassing and has damaged our diplomatic reputation,” Jinapor said in a statement.
The Minority also questioned the cost implications of recalling and redeploying officers, warning it could strain the national budget amid ongoing economic difficulties.
Legal Uncertainty
Minister Ablakwa has stated that the matter has been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for possible prosecution and asset recovery. However, no formal charges have been announced yet, and Kwarteng remains in the U.S. as of this report.
The Auditor-General is expected to conduct a forensic examination to determine the full extent of the alleged fraudulent scheme.
Kwarteng insists he is innocent and is prepared to defend his record. “I served the embassy with dedication and used my skills to improve operations. If mistakes were made, they were never malicious,” he said.
