Foreign Affairs Ministry reaffirms ban on middlemen in attestation services

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on the use of middlemen and third-party agents in the acquisition of attestation documents following an undercover investigation by The Fourth Estate that uncovered alleged irregularities in the process.

The Ministry said it remained committed to promoting integrity, transparency and ethical service delivery while taking steps to protect applicants from individuals who exploit citizens seeking attestation services.

In a statement issued on Thursday, September 3, 2026, in response to the investigative report published on September 2, the Ministry commended The Fourth Estate for its work and contribution to public accountability and improvements in service delivery.

Management of the Ministry condemned the activities of what it described as unscrupulous middlemen who have no official association with the Ministry but allegedly take advantage of applicants.

The Ministry disclosed that the individual featured in the investigation was not a staff member of the Ministry. It said following the report, the person was sanctioned by his institution and referred to law enforcement authorities for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The individual has also been barred from entering the Ministry's premises.

“The Ministry maintains a zero-tolerance policy on middlemen or third-party facilitators in the acquisition of attestation documents,” the statement said.

It urged applicants to deal directly with the authorised institutions responsible for the attestation process.

The Ministry explained that attestation involves multiple institutions across different arms of government, requiring effective coordination to safeguard the credibility and integrity of the service.

It said efforts to improve coordination and strengthen integrity across the institutions involved had been underway for several months, even before the publication of the investigative report.

As part of broader reforms, the Ministry said it was undertaking a comprehensive review of its consular and attestation services.

The reforms include plans to make payments fully cashless and introduce digital platforms covering the entire attestation process.

According to the Ministry, the changes are intended to reduce unnecessary human interaction, minimise opportunities for abuse and improve the efficiency and transparency of the service.

“We are confident that these reforms will produce desirable outcomes similar to what we have achieved with Passport Administration in Ghana,” it stated.

The Ministry also clarified that the officially approved fee for attestation is GH¢200, which is collected by officials of the Controller and Accountant General's Department, with applicants issued official receipts for their payments.

It cautioned the public against making additional payments to intermediaries or engaging individuals who claim they can facilitate the attestation process.

“No one should engage the services of middlemen. It is strictly illegal,” the Ministry warned.