Fred Kwarteng, the former Head of Information Technology at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington D.C., has defended his creation of an online consular payment platform, insisting it was built in good faith and not for personal gain.
In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr. Kwarteng responded to allegations that he set up an unauthorised payment portal that diverted passport applicants to his private company, Ghana Travel Consultants (GTC).
The portal reportedly charged additional fees ranging from $29.75 to $60—charges not sanctioned by Ghana’s Fees and Charges Act.
“This system wasn’t for profit. It was to solve an internal challenge and streamline consular services. I did this at no cost to the embassy,” Kwarteng explained, emphasizing that his intention was to resolve long-standing processing delays.
A special audit report cited the IT officer for breaching protocol, sparking concern from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The allegations led to the temporary closure of the Ghana Embassy in Washington on May 26, 2025, as authorities initiated a systems overhaul. Full operations resumed on May 29.
Kwarteng confirmed receiving a dismissal letter signed by the Acting Head of Mission, although he declined to disclose the date it was issued. He maintained that he had not interacted with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa directly.
“I was the only IT support staff and reported directly to the administration. I never imagined that what I built to help would later be seen as misconduct,” he said.
Responding to claims that he admitted wrongdoing during the audit, Kwarteng stated, “I don’t know where that came from. I gave a full explanation when a delegation from Accra met me on May 19.”
Kwarteng concluded by expressing surprise at the backlash, reiterating that his actions were driven by a desire to support the embassy’s operations—not to exploit them.
