The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards the use of middlemen in the acquisition of attestation documents following an undercover investigation by The Fourth Estate into attestation services provided by state institutions.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Ministry said it had taken note of an online report published on September 2 and commended The Fourth Estate for its investigative work and contribution to “enhancing good governance, public accountability and operational efficiency.”
The Ministry, however, stressed that it does not permit third-party facilitators to assist applicants in obtaining attestation documents.
“The Ministry maintains a zero-tolerance policy on middlemen or third-party facilitators in the acquisition of attestation documents and is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical service delivery to the public,” it said.
Management also condemned the activities of individuals who allegedly exploit citizens seeking attestation services, describing them as “unscrupulous middlemen without any official link to the Ministry whatsoever, who take advantage of vulnerable citizens.”
According to the Ministry, the individual implicated in the undercover investigation is not a staff member of the Ministry. It said he had subsequently been sanctioned by his respective institution and reported to law enforcement for further investigation and prosecution.
The individual has also been prohibited from entering the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry explained that the attestation process involves multiple institutions across different arms of government, making coordination critical to maintaining the integrity of the service.
It said “stronger coordination to enhance multi-institutional integrity and credibility” had been underway for several months, even before the publication of the investigative findings.
The Ministry further disclosed that it had already embarked on reforms of its consular and attestation services prior to the investigation.
“These reforms are being pursued to make the payment process cashless and digital platforms are being developed to anchor the entire attestation process and drastically reduce human interface,” the statement said.
The Ministry expressed confidence that the reforms would produce outcomes similar to those achieved through improvements in passport administration.
It also reminded the public that the parliamentary-approved fee for attestation is GH¢200, which is collected by officials of the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, who issue official receipts.
“No one should engage the services of middlemen—it is strictly illegal,” the Ministry cautioned.
