GHANA TEMPORARILY CLOSES ITS EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON OVER STAFF CORRUPTION.

Ghana has temporarily shut down its embassy in Washington, US, following a corruption scandal. 

A statement by foreign Minister Samuel, Okudzeto Ablakwa, said an investigation revealed that a local IT employee, Fred Kwarteng, had been redirecting visa and passport applicants to his private company, charging them unauthorized fees ranging from $29.75 to $60.

Kwarteng said the employee, who was hired in 2017, was immediately dismissed, and the case has been referred to the attorney-general for possible prosecution, while the embassy's IT department has been dissolved, and all locally recruited staff have been suspended.

The Minister added that the embassy will remain closed for a few days to finalize ongoing restructuring and system overhaul.