"I'm not sure" - K.T Hammond unsure if OSP has questioned Kwabena Donkor over Berko bribery case

K.T. Hammond, lawyer for former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor, stated during an interview with JoyNews that he is "not sure" if his client has been contacted by Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) or US authorities. This uncertainty follows the conviction of former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko. The OSP has confirmed its involvement in the US investigation, providing investigative and evidentiary assistance to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through Ghana's mutual legal assistance framework.

Berko was convicted by a US federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, on charges related to a scheme involving over US$1 million in bribes paid to Ghanaian officials for a power plant project with Aksa Energy. Dr. Donkor, who was Power Minister during the transaction, has denied any involvement, with his lawyer maintaining that he never met Berko, negotiated with him, or received money from him. The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has intensified its investigation into the Ghanaian dimension of the case, including asset tracing and recovery, and the Attorney-General has directed EOCO to escalate this.