News
Ghana shuts down Embassy in Washington D.C. over corruption scandal
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced the temporary closure of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, D.C., following allegations of widespread corruption and abuse of office at the diplomatic mission.
Mr. Ablakwa disclosed the decision on Monday, May 26, 2025, explaining that the closure is part of efforts “to finalise the ongoing restructuring and systems overhaul” after a special audit team uncovered a long-running fraudulent scheme at the embassy.
He described the move as regrettable but necessary to restore integrity and accountability to Ghana’s diplomatic operations.
“This is part of the drastic and decisive actions I have taken with the firm support of President Mahama, following the damning findings of a special audit team I put together a couple of months ago to investigate alleged corrupt practices at Ghana’s embassy in Washington D.C.,” he stated.
At the centre of the scandal is Fred Kwarteng, a locally recruited IT staff member employed in August 2017, who admitted to creating an unauthorised link on the embassy’s website.
This link redirected visa and passport applicants to his private firm, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC), where they were charged unapproved fees ranging from US$29.75 to US$60.
These payments, which were not sanctioned by the Ministry or Parliament under the Fees and Charges Act, went directly into Kwarteng’s personal account. Investigations suggest the scheme had operated undetected for at least five years.
The matter has been referred to the Attorney-General for possible prosecution and the recovery of misappropriated funds.
Mr. Ablakwa further announced that all Foreign Ministry staff posted to the Washington D.C. mission have been recalled to Accra. The embassy’s IT department has been dissolved, and all locally recruited staff have been suspended pending further investigations.
The Auditor-General has been tasked with conducting a full forensic audit to determine the total financial loss to the state.
While acknowledging the inconvenience the temporary closure may cause Ghanaians and foreign nationals seeking consular services, Mr. Ablakwa insisted that such bold action is essential to cleanse the system.
“President Mahama’s government will continue to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption, naked conflict of interest, and blatant abuse of office,” he emphasised.
citinewsrooms.com
Education
Over 10 Students Arrested Over Okuapeman-Mount Sinai SHS Clash
More than 10 students have been apprehended in connection with the clashes between Okuapeman Senior High School and Mount Sinai Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The arrests follow reprisal attacks between students of the two schools, which resulted in the burning and destruction of several structures on both campuses in the early hours of Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 2, Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Joseph Owusu-Bempah, said some of the students fled their schools when the police arrived. Still, he warned that their absence would not prevent the police from arresting them.
“We have apprehended them. And there are more,” he said, adding that the police are compiling a comprehensive list of all persons involved in the violence.
He disclosed that the investigation had also uncovered information suggesting that some teachers may have encouraged students to attack their counterparts.
According to him, the police have obtained the names of teachers allegedly linked to the incident and will take action against them if investigations establish their involvement.
“We have the names of the teachers. They have nowhere to go. At the appropriate time, we will arrest all of them, and their names will be published,” DCOP Owusu-Bempah warned.
DCOP Owusu-Bempah assured the public that anyone found to have participated in the violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law, while urging students to return to school and cooperate with the investigation.
He also appealed against any interference in the police process, warning that such actions could undermine efforts to restore calm and ensure accountability.
At Okuapeman SHS, six students were injured and taken to hospital following the incident. The school’s Headmaster said four of the students had since been treated and discharged, while two remained on admission as of Wednesday.
The exact trigger for the clashes remains unclear, but the police have begun investigations to establish what led to the confrontation and identify all those responsible.
citinewsroom.com
Education
GES Releases National Harmonised Prospectus For 2026/27 SHS Admissions
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the release of the National Harmonised Prospectus for prospective Senior High School (SHS) and Senior High Technical School (SHTS) students for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The prospectus is intended to guide parents and students on the essential items required for enrolment, covering both boarding and day students.
GES has urged parents and students preparing for the next stage of their education to carefully review the prospectus and make the necessary preparations ahead of the commencement of the new academic year.
Schools and other relevant stakeholders have also been directed to adhere to the requirements outlined in the prospectus to ensure a smooth, consistent and standardised admission process nationwide.
The release of the prospectus comes ahead of the announcement of school placements and is expected to help newly admitted students and their parents adequately prepare for enrolment once placements are released.
Parents and prospective students are therefore encouraged to familiarise themselves with the approved requirements to avoid challenges during the admission process.
Below is the list of items outlined in the prospectus that parents and guardians are required to acquire for their wards:


myjoyonline.com
General News
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