Former Ghana Embassy official denies fraud allegations

Kofi Tonto, who previously led Information and Public Affairs at Ghana's Embassy in Washington, has vehemently denied any connection to an alleged fraudulent scheme at the embassy, which is reportedly under investigation for $19 million in irregularities.

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I have never been involved in any fraudulent scheme, the sharing of illicit funds, or the receipt of ill-gotten money.

In a statement released in Accra, Tonto specifically addressed reports suggesting he received $800 as part of the alleged fraud. He clarified that this payment, made in July 2021, was a legitimate child benefit following the birth of his daughter in January 2021. He emphasized that such benefits were standard practice for embassy staff for various life events and that this single payment could not imply complicity in fraud.

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The audit report covering the period from 2017 to 2025 does not name me as a person of interest for investigation.

Tonto further stated that the forensic audit, covering the period from 2017 to 2025, does not identify him as a subject of investigation. He maintained that all compensation, allowances, and benefits he received during his tenure from March 2019 to July 2021 were in good faith and followed established procedures. He also asserted that he was never involved in the embassy's financial management decisions, including those concerning bank accounts.

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The US$800 payment I received in July 2021 was a lawful child benefit package following the birth of my daughter in January 2021.

Urging the public, family, and friends to dismiss what he termed "distorted narratives," Tonto stressed his innocence. He insisted he has never engaged in fraudulent activities, the distribution of illicit funds, or the receipt of illegally obtained money. He called for the rejection of any attempts to falsely link him to wrongdoing.

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disregard what he described as distorted narratives intended to falsely associate him with wrongdoing in the matter.