Ghana’s Embassy in Washington D.C. Reopens Today After Temporary Closure
Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. is set to reopen today, Thursday, May 29, 2025, after a brief closure initiated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. The shutdown, which began on Monday, May 26, was prompted by an alleged corruption case involving the Embassy’s visa department.
According to a statement posted on Facebook by Minister Ablakwa, a local IT staff member at the Embassy is accused of diverting official funds into a personal bank account, triggering the decision to temporarily suspend operations.
The move has received strong backing from the Chairman of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije. Speaking to journalists, Dr. Vanderpuije praised the Minister’s decisive action, describing it as crucial for promoting transparency and protecting public funds.
“When we see corruption, when we see an act that goes against the vision of rebuilding our nation, we will not tolerate it,” he said. “We fully support the Minister’s actions. When the Embassy reopens, Ghanaians can expect service without a trace of corruption.”
However, the Minority in Parliament has expressed concerns over the manner in which the matter was handled. Led by Ranking Member Samuel A. Jinapor, the group criticized the Minister’s use of social media for announcing such a significant diplomatic decision, calling it a deviation from Ghana’s longstanding tradition of quiet diplomacy.
“We were shocked to learn of the Embassy’s closure through public channels rather than through prior consultation with the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Jinapor stated on Tuesday, May 27. “This kind of decision warrants briefing and deliberation through proper diplomatic avenues.”
While acknowledging the importance of transparency, the Minority emphasized that sensitive foreign affairs issues should be managed discreetly to uphold Ghana’s international reputation and support the morale of foreign service personnel.
“This approach has broad implications for the reputation of our country, the morale of our diplomatic corps, and the well-being of Ghanaians living abroad,” Jinapor added.
As the Embassy resumes operations, stakeholders both in Ghana and abroad will be watching closely to see how the situation is resolved and whether further measures will be taken to strengthen oversight and accountability.
