Ghana’s Washington Embassy Reopens After Shocking Corruption Scandal

Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. has officially reopened today, Thursday, May 29, 2025, following a three-day closure prompted by a corruption investigation involving one of its staff members.

The closure, which began on Monday, May 26, was ordered by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, after it was discovered that a local IT staff member had allegedly diverted visa processing funds into a personal bank account.

The minister shared the development in a Facebook post, pledging the government’s unwavering commitment to fighting corruption within its foreign missions.

In Parliament, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, backed the minister’s decisive action. “When we see corruption… we will not condone it,” he said.

“We support the minister for all the actions taken. When the embassy reopens, the public will be served without an iota of corruption.”

However, not everyone agreed with the approach. The Minority in Parliament, led by Ranking Member Samuel A. Jinapor, criticized the minister’s decision to announce the closure through social media, describing it as a break from Ghana’s long-standing tradition of quiet diplomacy.

“We were utterly shocked to learn of the decision through public announcements rather than prior engagement with the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Jinapor remarked.

He called for more consultative and tactful communication in handling sensitive foreign affairs matters.

While the Minority acknowledged the need for accountability, they also warned that such public disclosures could damage morale within the Foreign Service, affect Ghana’s international standing, and potentially cause distress among Ghanaians living abroad.

As regular consular and diplomatic services resume at the Embassy today, investigations are still underway to determine the extent of the misconduct and prevent similar incidents in the future.

It is not yet clear whether further disciplinary or legal action will be taken against the implicated staff member.

The reopening of the Embassy signals a return to normal operations, but the incident has sparked a wider conversation about transparency, diplomacy, and institutional accountability within Ghana’s global missions.