The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured Ghana visa applicants in the US that their requests are being processed.
This is contained in a press release dated June 19.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that visa applications at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC are being processed. Once completed visas will be mailed to the respective applicants,” the press release indicated.
It added that, “To enhance communication between the Embassy and applicants, the telephone lines have been expanded to include the following numbers: i. +202 568 2692 ii. +202 568 3860 iii. +202 568 3873.”
“Furthermore, the working hours have temporarily been extended from 09:00hrs to 16:00hrs to 08:00hrs to 20:00hrs to effectively and urgently address the needs of applicants. Urgent visa-related enquiries should be directed to the above telephone numbers or the following email addresses: • [email protected] • [email protected],” it announced.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment in providing the public with quality service.
Ghana’s embassy in the US was shut down temporarily due to alleged visa fraud involving an officer by name Fred Kwarteng. Mr Kwarteng allegedly deployed a scheme that made it possible for him to earn $4.8 million at the expense of the country.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the matter has been reported to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as well at the Office of the Attorney-General for investigation.
“It is important to note that there was no share of this amount to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Given the amount of funds that were derived from the unauthorised operations, it has become imperative to invite EOCO and the Attorney General to investigate, trace the proceeds, and prosecute Fred Kwarteng and his collaborators as instructed by the President,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said.
Fred Kwarteng has been accused of creating an illegal connection to the Ghana embassy’s website, which diverted visa and passport applicants to his company, Ghana Travel Consultants, for visa services.
On Monday, May 26, the sector Minister, Samuel Okudzeto announced that the embassy shall be closed for a few days as the government finalised ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul.
The embassy’s IT department had been promptly dissolved, Mr Ablakwa further stated. Additionally, all locally recruited staff at the embassy were suspended.
This development came on the back of a damning audit report on the operations of the embassy especially its IT department.
Following the report, Mr Ablakwa announced the sacking of one Fred Kwarteng, a local staff recruited on August 11, 2017 to work in the embassy’s IT department.
Referring to findings from an audit report, and his own admission, Mr Ablakwa said that Kwarteng allegedly created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website which diverted visa and passport applicants to his company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC) where he charged extra for multiple services on the blind side of the ministry and kept the entire proceeds in his private account.
