How Asante Kwaku Berko allegedly paid over $1 million in bribes to former minister, MPs, and gov't officials to secure deal for Turkish client

Asante Kwaku Berko, former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director, was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all counts relating to a corruption scheme involving the development and financing of a power plant in Ghana. He allegedly used more than US$1 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials, including a former Minister of Power and MPs, to help secure a power project for his Turkish client, Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S.

The nine-day trial before United States District Judge Diane Gujarati established that Berko and his co-conspirators sought to influence officials to ensure Aksa won the contract. Berko faces up to 30 years in prison and has been remanded pending sentencing. His involvement began in December 2014, and in April 2015, he and his associates discussed the alleged payment of US$1 million to the Ghanaian Minister of Power. A further US$250,000 was allegedly earmarked for the Minister's senior adviser. After Parliament ratified the Aksa-Ghana power agreement in July 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators exchanged emails detailing further payments in August 2015.