A forensic audit reportedly conducted by Ghana’s Auditor-General has uncovered disturbing allegations of financial misconduct involving consular services at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, DC, in the United States.
The findings, covering activities between 2019 and 2025, reportedly point to an alleged scheme in which applicants seeking visas and passports were subjected to unofficial payments, with proceeds subsequently channelled into an embassy-linked account.
According to details of the report published by the Public Accountability and Corruption-related source, pacgh.org, and sighted by GhanaWeb on August 12, 2026, several officials allegedly benefited from funds placed in an account described as a “welfare” account.
Among the individuals listed as recipients are Kofi Tonto, Janet Maku Koranteng, Karim Kudayah, Mary Zori and Tettey Addy.
The report indicates that payments made to individuals on the list ranged from about $800 to $3,000.
Kofi Tonto’s name emerges
The appearance of the name Kofi Tonto in the audit has attracted attention, particularly because a person of the same name is known as a New Patriotic Party communicator.
The report, however, does not establish whether the individual named in the audit is the same person. Kofi Tonto previously served at the Ghana Embassy in Washington, DC, as Head of Information and Public Affairs.
The audit’s reference to him therefore raises questions about his role and whether he was among the officials who benefited from the alleged welfare payments.
Janet Koranteng linked to account creation
Janet Maku Koranteng, identified in the report as the Embassy’s Treasury Officer, is also named in connection with the account at the centre of the controversy.
According to the reported findings, Koranteng wrote to Citibank on March 16, 2020, requesting the establishment of the account into which the disputed funds were subsequently paid.
Mary Zori, who served as First Secretary in charge of Accounts, was reportedly listed as one of the signatories to the account.
The account was purportedly presented as a welfare facility intended to provide benefits to embassy staff.
Citibank raises red flags
The arrangement reportedly came under scrutiny after officials at Citibank questioned the source and purpose of deposits being made into the account.
The bank reportedly noted that the account was expected to receive contributions from embassy staff and couriers. However, the financial institution observed that the funds entering the account were coming from Ghana Travel Consultancy LLC.
The company was reportedly established by Fred Kwarteng.
Citibank consequently sought clarification from the embassy over the relationship between the company and the mission, as well as why a private company was making payments into an account supposedly established for staff welfare.
The questions raised by the bank reportedly included whether Ghana Travel Consultancy LLC was simply providing courier services or was also involved in processing consular applications on behalf of the embassy.
Welfare account eventually shut down
The reported audit further indicates that the controversial welfare account was eventually closed following the intervention of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
The development has raised fresh questions about the handling of consular revenues and the extent to which applicants may have been subjected to unofficial charges during the period under review.
The Auditor-General’s findings, as reported, have also brought renewed scrutiny to the individuals whose names appear on the list of welfare beneficiaries.
However, being named in an audit or appearing as a recipient of a payment does not, by itself, establish criminal liability. The allegations and the roles attributed to the named individuals would require further investigation and responses from those concerned.
The controversy nevertheless adds to growing concerns over financial controls and accountability at Ghana’s diplomatic missions, particularly where visa, passport and other consular services involve significant payments from members of the public.
