A forensic audit has raised concerns over nearly US$296,000 paid by Ghana’s Embassy in the United States to a company reportedly owned by a former IT officer of the mission for renovation and furnishing works at the ambassador’s residence.
According to a report by Manasseh Azure Awuni’s Public Accountability Centre (pacgh.org), Stefrann LLC, owned by Fred Kwarteng, received two payments from the embassy, US$159,043.84 in February 2019 and US$136,864 in June 2020.
The transactions were flagged by auditors as a potential conflict of interest because Kwarteng was reportedly an employee of the embassy when the payments were made.
The audit report said the embassy’s then Chief Treasury Officer, Janet Maku Koranteng, confirmed that Kwarteng owned the company.
The mission’s US banker, Citibank, also reportedly raised concerns about the payments, citing questionable invoices, inconsistencies in company information and the apparent conflict of interest arising from an embassy staff member benefiting from mission funds.
According to the report, Citibank queried the transactions “due to questionable invoices, inconsistencies in company details, and the conflict of interest arising from a staff member being the beneficiary of Embassy payments.”
Auditors concluded that the transaction did not comply with the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), which requires public officials responsible for state resources to ensure that public funds are properly protected, authorised and documented.
The audit also cited the Foreign Service Regulations, 2019, which prohibit officials serving at Ghanaian diplomatic missions from engaging in transactions that create conflicts of interest.
Despite the concerns raised by Citibank, the embassy proceeded with the payments, according to the audit.
Citibank raises questions over renovation payments
The report said Citibank had requested additional documents before processing the transactions.
Bank official Jay Varkey reportedly asked the embassy to provide the US State Department’s approval for the renovation, details of the work and budget, information on the contractors and vendors and evidence of the necessary internal approvals.
He also questioned a payment to Stefrann LLC after the cheque memo described the transaction as “payment of furniture for residency”.
Varkey sought clarification on whether the furniture was purchased through Stefrann LLC or Persiano Furniture Gallery.
He also asked whether Persiano Furniture Gallery had been fully paid and whether payment had been made directly to the company or through Stefrann LLC.
Auditors subsequently conducted checks on Stefrann and identified another discrepancy.
Their search reportedly found companies registered under the name STEFRAN LLC, but not STEFRANN LLC, the name used by the embassy for the payments.
Auditor-General recommends recovery
The Auditor-General has recommended the recovery of the amounts involved from the key actors connected to the transaction.
The audit also called for stronger due diligence on vendors, particularly for high-value contracts. The recommended checks include verifying ownership and beneficial ownership, as well as screening vendors for sanctions and politically exposed persons.
Kwarteng’s role at the embassy
Fred Kwarteng served as the embassy’s ICT officer from November 2016 until his dismissal in May 2025.
According to the audit report, he had operational control over several of the mission’s digital platforms, including its website, online visa and passport application systems and payment gateway integrations.
The report also linked him to external platforms including TravelGhana.Net and GhanaPV.org, as well as entities such as Ghana Travel Consult, Secure Data Centre LLC, Travel Global and MFG Technology.
Auditors alleged that some of these platforms were connected to the embassy’s official systems or designed in ways that could make them appear to be government-authorised.
According to the report, some applicants were redirected from the embassy’s official website to external platforms and allegedly required to make payments through them.
The auditors further said some of the platforms used official symbols and presentation styles that could lead users to believe they had government approval.
The report alleged that Kwarteng was involved in connecting unauthorised websites to the embassy’s official website, with visa and passport applicants reportedly being charged fees above officially approved rates.
It said Ghana Foreign Service ethical standards prohibit employees, contractors and agents from using embassy platforms, symbols or imagery, including the national Coat of Arms, in ways that suggest official endorsement of private commercial activities or facilitate personal financial gain.
The Auditor-General has subsequently recommended stronger oversight of vendors and tighter controls to prevent conflicts of interest and misuse of public resources at Ghanaian diplomatic missions.
