Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the government is working with U.S. authorities to freeze the bank accounts of Fredrick Kwarteng, the main suspect in a passport and visa fraud scandal linked to Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa said the action is part of wider efforts to ensure justice and hold all involved parties accountable.
“I emphasize that Fredrick Kwarteng, the primary suspect, and any collaborators will face the full force of the law. This includes cooperating with U.S. officials to freeze all accounts tied to this fraudulent operation,” he stated.
The embassy was temporarily closed on May 26 following revelations of widespread misconduct and fraud.
A special audit uncovered that Kwarteng, a locally hired IT officer since 2017, had inserted an unauthorized link into the embassy’s website. This link redirected passport and visa applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where they were charged unapproved fees ranging from $29.75 to $60.
Mr. Ablakwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, noted that several measures have been rolled out to fully investigate the scheme.
“I have issued several directives that are now being implemented. One includes the formation of an internal committee to investigate all locally recruited staff. EOCO has also been officially notified to pursue Kwarteng, trace the financial trail, and ensure his extradition to Ghana for prosecution,” he added.
