Shocking revelations have emerged linking the Executive Director of the National Communication on Culture (NCC), Nana Otuo Owoahene Acheampong, also known as Gilbert Franklyn King, to a major visa scandal involving the United States embassy in Ghana.
Despite denying knowledge of the incident, The New Republic is reliably informed that
the United State’s Embassy, alongside its Overseas Criminal Investigations Unit (OCIU), has launched a thorough investigation after discovering that 37 individuals were falsely presented as NCC staff members with their details submitted for US visas.
The individuals were allegedly set to attend the American Academy of Audiology in New Orleans Riverside, Louisiana later this March, as indicated by intercepted information. However, doubts have been raised by American authorities regarding the credibility of the Commission under Owoahene Acheampong’s claims.
Two formal letters were sent to the Commission seeking clarification and authentication. The first letter, dated February 13, 2025, requested verification of employment details for nine individuals, including Eric Lawvans Krampah and Jamila Muhammed.
Signed by Deputy Fraud Prevention Manager Virginia Gilbert, the letter urged the Commission to confirm the individuals’ positions, salaries, and staff identification numbers.
The second letter, dated February 19, 2025, listed 28 more individuals for confirmation, including the Executive Director himself.
Owoahene Acheampong, who was appointed in 2023, is the Nkabomhene of the Kumawu Traditional Area in the Ashanti Region and also holds leadership roles in various cultural organizations in Ghana.
Additionally, allegations of misconduct within the Commission have prompted calls for him and other officials to step aside pending investigations.
Charges against them are: unjust salary deductions, needless staff transfers, unauthorized conference fees, unlawful staff promotions, and accusations of harassment and abuse.
Notably, this scandal isn’t the first involving officials of the immediate past government in visa irregularities. The Australian visa scandal implicated a deputy minister in 2018, although none of the individuals involved were prosecuted, tarnishing Ghana’s international reputation.
As the investigation unfolds, the public eagerly awaits accountability and justice in this latest visa scandal involving the NCC and the US embassy.