Foreign Ministry warns public against Consular Service fraud

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has cautioned the public to avoid dealing with unauthorized individuals and middlemen when seeking consular or ministry-related services.

In a press release issued on Monday, August 18, the Ministry stressed that using forged or fraudulent documents is a criminal offence and warned that such cases would be referred to law enforcement for prosecution.

The Ministry urged citizens to rely only on its official communication channels—its website, verified social media pages, and accredited media—for service updates and procedures. “All individuals seeking consular or related services must deal directly with designated officers at the Ministry’s headquarters or through Ghana’s accredited Missions abroad,” the statement said.

It further emphasised that no payments should be made to unauthorised persons. All official fees must be paid in cash only to Controller and Accountant-General’s Department officers at the Ministry’s premises, with receipts provided for every transaction.

Approved Fees for Consular Services:

Attestation/Legalisation of Documents: GH¢200 – 5 working days

Travel Certificate: GH¢200 – 2–3 working days

Laissez-Passer: GH¢200 – 2–3 working days

Applicants are required to provide supporting documents such as valid IDs, passport details, photographs, flight itineraries, and application letters, depending on the service requested.

The Ministry also advised Ghanaians to report any suspicious activity immediately and provided contacts for the Consular and Humanitarian Affairs Bureau: Tel: +233 204 552 750 | Email: consular@mfa.gov.gh.

Reaffirming its zero-tolerance policy on fraud, the Ministry assured the public of its commitment to efficient, transparent, and client-friendly service delivery.