The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced that the Ghana Embassy in Washington DC will reopen on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The embassy had been temporarily closed to address significant IT breaches and staff misconduct, prompting a comprehensive overhaul of its operations.
Background
The closure followed revelations of unauthorized activities within the embassy’s IT systems. Investigations uncovered that a locally recruited IT staff member had created an unauthorized link on the embassy’s website, redirecting visa and passport applicants to his private company. Applicants were charged additional fees, which were not sanctioned by the Ministry or Parliament, and the proceeds were kept in the staff member’s personal account.
Reform Measures
In response, the Ministry recalled all home-based staff and suspended local personnel. A new team of experienced diplomats has been deployed to manage the embassy’s operations. An Information Technology (IT) team has also been assigned to reconfigure the embassy’s website and payment platforms, eliminating unauthorized links and enhancing digital security.
Resumption of Services
The Ministry has assured the public that measures have been put in place to clear any backlog of services. Consular services, including visa and passport processing, will resume upon reopening. The Ministry expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the temporary closure and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and efficiency in its diplomatic missions.
Contact Information
For assistance, the public can reach the embassy through the following contacts:
- Email (USA): washington@mfa.gov.gh
- Phone (USA): +1 202 686 4520
- Email (Ghana): ipab@mfa.gov.gh
- Phone (Ghana): +233 240 793 072
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