Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told Parliament that an IT worker at the country's Washington embassy stole millions of dollars each year. Fred Kwarteng worked at the embassy but also ran a private business called Ghana Travel Consultants. The company handled visa and passport delivery services for the embassy through an illegal contract. Kwarteng made about $1.8 million annually just from courier work. His total yearly income from the scheme reached nearly $4.8 million.
The minister spoke to lawmakers on Wednesday about why Ghana's U.S. embassy closed temporarily and later reopened. A special audit found widespread corruption at the mission. The audit revealed that Kwarteng's company sent out between 150 and 350 visas and passports every day. On average, Ghana Travel Consultants delivered around 250 documents daily. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has asked crime investigators and the Attorney General to track down the stolen money and recover it for the government.
The minister spoke to lawmakers on Wednesday about why Ghana's U.S. embassy closed temporarily and later reopened. A special audit found widespread corruption at the mission. The audit revealed that Kwarteng's company sent out between 150 and 350 visas and passports every day. On average, Ghana Travel Consultants delivered around 250 documents daily. The Foreign Affairs Ministry has asked crime investigators and the Attorney General to track down the stolen money and recover it for the government.
