By: Alexander Afriyie
Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has taken swift and decisive action against corruption at the country’s embassy in Washington DC, with the full support of President Mahama. Following a damning audit report, Ablakwa announced a series of measures to address the alleged corrupt practices.
Key Actions Taken
– Dismissal of IT Staff: Mr. Fred Kwarteng, a local staff member in the embassy’s IT department, has been immediately dismissed for creating an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website. This link diverted visa and passport applicants to Kwarteng’s company, Ghana Travel Consultants, where he charged extra fees ranging from $29.75 to $60 per applicant, pocketing the proceeds in his private account.
– Recall of Embassy Staff: All Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff posted to the Washington embassy have been recalled home with the immediate effect.
– Dissolution of IT Department: The embassy’s IT department has been promptly dissolved.
– Suspension of Locally Recruited Staff: All locally recruited staff at the embassy have been suspended.
– Forensic Audit: The Auditor-General has been invited to conduct a forensic examination of all transactions to determine the total cost of the fraudulent scheme.
– Embassy Closure: The Ghana embassy in Washington DC will be closed for a few days to facilitate restructuring and systems overhaul.
Government’s Stance.
Ablakwa emphasized that President Mahama’s government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, conflict of interest, and blatant abuse of office. The investigation’s findings have been reported to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and retrieval of funds obtained through fraudulent schemes. Alexander Afriyie