Foreign Affairs Ministry Commends Fourth Estate for its Investigation

The ministry of foreign affairs has commended The Fourth Estate for its investigative work, saying it contributes to promoting good governance, public accountability and operational efficiency.

The Ministry in a statement issued on September 3, 2016 said it maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards middlemen and third-party facilitators involved in the acquisition of attestation documents.

It condemned the activities of unscrupulous individuals with no official connection to the Ministry who allegedly take advantage of vulnerable citizens.

According to the Ministry, the individual implicated in the investigation was not a staff member of the Ministry. It said he had been sanctioned by his respective institution and reported to law enforcement for further investigation and prosecution.

The Ministry added that the individual had also been prohibited from entering its premises.

The statement said the attestation process involved multiple government institutions, with efforts ongoing for several months to strengthen coordination and improve the integrity and credibility of the process.

The Ministry also said reforms were underway to make payments for attestation services cashless, while digital platforms are being developed to support the entire process and reduce human interaction.

It further clarified that the approved fee for attestation was GH¢200, which was collected by officials of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, who issue the appropriate receipts.

The Ministry warned the public against engaging middlemen, stressing that the practice was strictly illegal.

Members of the public with relevant information, enquiries or complaints have been encouraged to contact the Ministry through its official channels.

By Agnes Kusi