Ghana-US Embassy ‘scandal’: It has become imperative for EOCO, A-G to investigate – Ablakwa

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as well as the Office of the Attorney-General have been tasked to investigate the alleged visa fraud at Ghana’s Embassy in the US.

Mr Ablakwa disclosed this in Parliament on June 14 when he presented a report on the matter.

According to him, the officer involved, Fred Kwarteng, earned $4.8 million per year.

“By the analysis made by the fact-finding team, which is a team made up of distinguished senior diplomats, management of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Fred Kwarteng was making 4.8 million dollars annually from his unlawful enterprise,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa therefore announced the need for EOCO and the Attorney-General’s office to investigate the matter.

“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.

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.

The post Ghana-US Embassy ‘scandal’: It has become imperative for EOCO, A-G to investigate – Ablakwa first appeared on 3News.

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