A forensic audit into alleged financial irregularities at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, DC, has named former Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States, Hajia Alima Mahama, among senior officials linked to the controversial consular services arrangement that allegedly generated more than $19.3 million in unauthorised fees.
The findings form part of a forensic report commissioned following allegations of corruption and financial misconduct at the embassy. The report, details of which were published by the Public Accountability and Integrity Commission (PAIC), examined how visa and passport applicants were allegedly redirected from the embassy’s official website to privately controlled platforms where additional charges were imposed.
The scandal came to public attention in May 2025 when Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa ordered the closure of the embassy following allegations that public funds had been diverted through an unauthorised system used for consular services.
According to the forensic report, applicants accessing the embassy’s website were redirected to external platforms where they were required to pay additional fees for services including passport and visa dispatch.
One of the charges identified was a $29.75 fee for the return of passports or visas. The report noted that the average actual postage cost was approximately $10.10, meaning applicants allegedly paid significantly more than the cost of the service.
The report said the alleged scheme involved several categories of charges, including dispatch and mailing fees, application support services and additional merchant fees for online payments.
The largest component of the alleged $19.3 million in unauthorised fees reportedly came from mailing and dispatch charges between 2019 and 2025.
Applicants were also allegedly charged $67 for passport application support services and $76.78 for visa application support services through external platforms. According to the audit, these services were presented as necessary for completing applications despite not forming part of officially approved government charges.
The report identified Fred Kwarteng, an Information Technology Officer at the embassy, as the alleged mastermind of the system. It said he created and operated external platforms, including TravelGhana.Net and GhanaPV.org, which redirected applicants from the embassy’s website to private payment platforms.
Several entities, including Ghana Travel Consult, Secure Data Centre LLC, Travel Global and MFG Technology, were also identified in connection with the arrangement.
What the report said about Alima Mahama
The audit specifically named Hajia Alima Mahama, who served as Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States from 2021 to 2024.
According to the report, Mahama exercised supervisory and financial authority over the embassy during her tenure and signed a General Contract for Services between the embassy and Travel Ghana/Secure Data Centre.
The audit said the agreement formalised the outsourcing of passport and visa dispatch services to entities connected to the system that allegedly charged unauthorised fees to applicants.
The report further stated that the embassy faced concerns during her tenure relating to banking compliance, related-party transactions and weaknesses in governance controls.
However, the report’s findings do not by themselves establish criminal liability, and Mahama has previously denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations.
She had disputed claims made by Ablakwa regarding the operations of Ghana Travel Consultants, a private company operated by former embassy staffer Fred Kwarteng.
Mahama maintained that the company had a valid contract with the embassy and rejected allegations that the arrangement caused financial loss to the state.
The forensic report also named Joseph Ngminebayihi, who served as Minister (Consular) between 2017 and 2021, and Amidu Mohammed Karande, who succeeded him and served from 2021 to 2025.
The findings are expected to inform further investigations and any potential action by the relevant state institutions into the alleged financial irregularities at Ghana’s Washington, DC mission.
