The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has uncovered a major financial scandal involving unauthorised charges for visa and passport services at the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Presenting a detailed report to Parliament, Mr Ablakwa revealed that a private company, GTC—managed by Mr. Fred Kwarteng—was contracted to support the embassy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under this arrangement, GTC introduced a fully online mailing system for dispatching visas and passports to applicants, charging $29.75 per delivery via FedEx or USPS.

In addition to courier services, GTC also offered assistance with completing visa and passport application forms, for which applicants were charged between $60 and $100.

Shockingly, the Minister reported that approximately 99% of applicants were compelled to use these paid services, raising serious concerns about transparency and legality.

Mr. Ablakwa noted that GTC processed and dispatched around 250 visa and passport documents daily, translating to about 62,500 documents annually.

Based on conservative estimates, the courier fees alone would have generated approximately $1.86 million per year.

When factoring in the charges for form assistance, the company is believed to have raked in an estimated $4.8 million annually—revenues that the Minister described as “unlawful.”

“This level of profiteering, outside the established legal and diplomatic frameworks, is deeply troubling and cannot be justified,” Ablakwa told Parliament.

The revelations have already led to the immediate dismissal of Fred Kwarteng, a local IT staff member at the embassy who was allegedly responsible for orchestrating the scheme in collaboration with GTC.

In response to the scandal, Mr. Ablakwa has taken decisive steps to restore public trust.

He has formally invited the Auditor-General to conduct a full forensic audit of all financial records relating to visa and passport services at the embassy.

The aim, according to the Minister, is to uncover the full extent of the fraud and ensure that all those found culpable face the necessary legal consequences.

“This is not just a breach of public trust—it is a clear violation of our laws, and we must act decisively to protect the integrity of our foreign missions,” the Minister emphasised.

Parliament is expected to debate the report in the coming days, with many lawmakers calling for stricter oversight of Ghana’s embassies abroad.