Former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Berko found guilty in US court for bribery scheme

Berko was found guilty on all counts, including conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA, violating the FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The verdict followed a nine-day trial in Brooklyn, New York. Berko, 52, faces up to 30 years in prison and has been remanded in custody.

US authorities stated that Berko was responsible for securing a deal between the Government of Ghana and Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S. for a power plant, a project estimated to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. Evidence presented at trial indicated that Berko and his co-conspirators allegedly paid or agreed to pay over $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials to ensure Aksa won the contract. This included discussions in April 2015 about paying $1 million to the then Ghanaian Minister of Power and $250,000 to the minister’s senior adviser.

Five Ghanaian officials reportedly received bribes during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey. After the agreement was ratified in July 2015, discussions continued, with $250,000 in payments, including $46,000 allegedly paid to members of the Ghanaian Parliament who ratified the agreement, a payment the US Attorney’s Office said Berko personally made. The scheme allegedly involved coded language