Accra: Mr Patrick Boamah, a member of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee in Parliament, Tuesday, urged Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to immediately reopen Ghana's Embassy in Washington, D.C. citing concerns over diplomatic tact and potential damage to Ghana's international reputation.
According to Ghana News Agency, the embassy's closure follows alleged revelations of a long-running fraudulent scheme involving a locally recruited IT staff member, Fred Kwarteng, who allegedly created an unauthorized link on the embassy's website to redirect visa and passport applicants to his private company. The scheme was believed to have gone undetected for at least five years.
Addressing some members of the Parliamentary Press Corps in Parliament, Mr Boamah said: "The mission ought to be reopened immediately for business to continue while investigations go on." He emphasized that the minister has the authority to ensure that those behind the alleged offence are held accountable.
Mr Boamah stressed the importance of handling diplomacy with care, noting that diplomacy requires tact to protect Ghana's global image. He also highlighted potential implications for bilateral and business relations, warning that individuals with business arrangements in Ghana might have their plans jeopardized.
"It's been more than 72 hours, and if somebody has a business to do in Ghana and made arrangements to come to Ghana to meet the business community, or any CSO or media or whatever institution, that person's arrangement has been put into jeopardy," he stated. He urged the minister to reopen the embassy and appoint appropriate interim staff, suggesting that after investigations, foreign service officers could be exonerated from involvement in the scheme.
