Adomo FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, featured Kofi Tonto, Head of Information and Public Affairs at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., in a discussion regarding a $19.4 million alleged fraud scheme at the embassy. Tonto vehemently denied any involvement, asserting that he received a $800 welfare benefit following the birth of his child. This denial contrasts sharply with earlier reports suggesting a potential connection to the scheme, which has triggered significant scrutiny within the government and the diplomatic community.
The discussion began with a review of the Auditor-General’s 220-page report, which Tonto stated he hadn’t been flagged as being implicated in the alleged scheme. He emphasized that his name was not included in the list of individuals implicated, a detail that was later confirmed through a search of the report’s tables. Specifically, the report details welfare benefits paid to embassy staff, and Tonto pointed out that his name appeared twice in these tables – once for benefits and once for his own individual payment.
According to Tonto, he initially dismissed the allegations when he learned of reports linking him to the scheme, stating he had left the embassy five years prior, citing a period of confusion regarding his payment. He subsequently spoke with former embassy staff, including those in charge of finances, who confirmed that he received the $800 as part of a welfare program for births and subsequent life-changing events. He explained that the payment was a standard benefit provided to embassy staff and that he rejected claims of it being part of the fraud.
The investigation, led by Manasseh Azure Awuni, has revealed a forensic audit by the Auditor-General, which estimates the total amount involved at approximately $19.4 million, distributed between 2019 and 2025. The audit report indicates that the scheme involved a significant number of transactions, with the $800 representing a substantial portion of the total amount. Notably, the audit also highlighted that the payments were intended to support life-changing events, such as births, and that the Embassy’s policy was to provide welfare benefits to staff.
Mr. Tonto further questioned why he would deliberately participate in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme for a relatively small amount, stating that even if he had no knowledge of the scheme, he would have planned it as a deliberate attempt to damage his image. He stressed his personal contact with Manasseh Awuni before the report was published, stating that he was compelled to add his name to the scheme due to his public profile.
The situation has raised considerable political and diplomatic implications, with the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., facing scrutiny regarding its financial practices. The Auditor-General’s report, which details the alleged scheme, has triggered a review of the embassy’s internal controls and fundraising processes. The government has indicated that they are investigating the matter and has stated that they are taking the allegations seriously. Adomo FM reported that Manasseh Awuni has stated that Tonto’s involvement was a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image, and that he has been given a private meeting to address the concerns of the public. The investigation continues, and authorities are examining the possibility of broader fraud or mismanagement within the embassy system. The full audit report remains under scrutiny, and experts are weighing the implications of this complex situation for Ghana’s diplomatic relations.
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Source: Adom Online
