Former Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States, Hajia Alima Mahama, has firmly denied allegations made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, that Fred Kwarteng, a former staff member of Ghana’s embassy in Washington, earned $4.8 million annually through unauthorized dealings as reported by Ghana Web.
Addressing the issue during an interview on June 23, 2025, Alima Mahama challenged Ablakwa’s figures, stating that Kwarteng’s company, GTC, operated under a legitimate agreement with the embassy to provide courier services for passport and visa applications.
She insisted that the embassy had no involvement in the courier service themselves and that Kwarteng’s earnings were based on negotiated flat rates with courier firms.
She explained that GTC charged $29.75 per delivery, regardless of how many passports were enclosed, and that the embassy processed fewer than 2,000 passports per quarter.
Alima Mahama emphasized that even the total revenue generated from visa issuance annually was under $4 million, casting further doubt on the $4.8 million figure.
Ablakwa had earlier alleged in Parliament that GTC handled an estimated 62,500 visa and passport deliveries each year, translating to around $1.8 million from courier services alone.
He added that further charges of $60 to $100 for assisting with forms could have boosted Kwarteng’s earnings to $4.8 million, labeling the operation as unlawful and exploitative.
The claim has sparked controversy, with Mahama describing the calculation as flawed and dismissing the suggestion that the arrangement financially harmed the Ghanaian government.