A view of the Ghana embassy in Washington DC

The former Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America (USA), Hajia Alima Mahama, has disclosed that Fred Kwarteng, an IT staff member dismissed over alleged corrupt activities, was contracted by the embassy in Washington DC to provide courier and mailing services.

According to her, since the embassy did not provide courier services, it found it necessary to contract Ghana Travel Consult, a privately owned company belonging to Fred Kwarteng, to deliver such services to visa and passport applicants.

“We signed a contract with Fred’s company, called Ghana Travel Company, and we allowed the company to provide services to visa and passport applicants by dispatching their passports to them. So, it's like a courier service. And the contract is clear. That was his role, and he also takes full responsibility for any undelivered package.

“We stated clearly in the contract that the company will not receive any payments, and the Ghana Embassy is indemnified. He takes responsibility for any losses or any misapplication, which was clearly stated in the contract. So, I gave that contract just to declare that this is our position. He has been mailing for the embassy since 2019,” she said in an interview on JoyNews on June 19, 2025.

Alima Mahama refuted claims made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs that GH¢4.8 million was lost annually to Fred Kwarteng’s company.

She clarified that the proceeds from the courier services did not belong to the Ghanaian embassy, as the embassy itself did not operate such a business.

“I think it is his imagination, and I don't know how he calculated it. The Ghana government does not engage in courier services. We don't take funds for such services as we are not in that business. So, if we give a contract to somebody to engage in courier services, it's not as if we are taking the work that the Ghana government should have done and given to somebody. That assertion is false,” she stated.

“So, the Ghana government does not provide courier service, and the Ghana government does not benefit financially from any courier service. He took the courier service and engaged the various companies, coming to terms with them about payment. At his company, he did engage. They gave me a flat rate for every country, and whatever he gets, I don't go to look at it because it's not Ghana's government business,” Alima Mahama added.

MAG/VPO

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