The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards middlemen and third-party facilitators following an undercover investigation by The Fourth Estate investigative outlet into alleged illegal charges for document attestation services.

The investigation found that applicants seeking attestation and validation of documents at the Ministry were allegedly being directed to unofficial intermediaries who charged fees far above the approved rate of GH¢200.

One undercover applicant was allegedly charged GH¢900 for a service that attracted an official receipt of GH¢265.

In response to this, the Ministry said it had already taken action against the individual implicated in the investigation and referred the matter to law enforcement for further investigation and possible prosecution.

“The Ministry’s Management condemns the reported practice of unscrupulous middlemen without any official link to the Ministry whatsoever, who take advantage of vulnerable citizens,” the Ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday, September 3.

It said the individual implicated in the investigation is not a staff member of the Ministry and has been sanctioned by his respective institution.

The person has also been barred from entering the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the statement.

The Ministry further said it had begun comprehensive reforms of its consular and attestation services before the publication of the investigation.

Among the reforms, it said, are plans to make payments cashless and the development of digital platforms to anchor the entire attestation process and reduce human interaction.

“The Ministry reiterates that the parliamentary approved fees for attestation is GHS200 which is collected by officials of the Controller and Accountant-General who issue the appropriate receipts. No one should engage the services of middlemen — it is strictly illegal,” it stressed.