The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the Government of Ghana is working closely with U.S. authorities to freeze the bank accounts of Fredrick Kwarteng, the main suspect implicated in the alleged visa and passport fraud scandal at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Mr Ablakwa stated that this action is part of comprehensive steps being taken to ensure full accountability and justice.
“I underscore that Felix Kwarteng, the principal suspect in this case, along with any accomplices, will be held fully accountable under the law. This includes cooperating with US authorities to freeze the accounts linked to this criminal enterprise,” he stated.
The government shuttered operations at the embassy temporarily on May 26 following reports of systemic abuse and fraudulent conduct within its operations.
A special audit unearthed that Kwarteng, an IT officer employed locally in 2017, had allegedly set up an unauthorised link on the official embassy website. This link redirected passport and visa applicants to his own private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where they were charged unofficial fees between $29.75 and $60.
Mr Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, disclosed that multiple interventions have been initiated to expose the full scope of the scandal.
“I issued a series of directives, which are currently being enforced. One is an internal investigative committee to probe all locally recruited staff. EOCO has formally been notified to pursue Mr. Kwarteng, trace the prints of crime, and have him brought to Ghana for prosecution,” he said.
