Asante Berko conviction offers lessons for Ghana's anti-corruption efforts, says legal practitioner
Private legal practitioner Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, also known as Kwaku Azar, stated that the conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States for violating the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA should serve as a significant lesson for Ghana in its fight against corruption. Berko's conviction stemmed from over $1 million in alleged bribes paid to Ghanaian government officials related to a power plant project. Azar emphasized that corruption involves both the briber and the bribee, and both parties must be held accountable. He called for Ghana to strengthen its laws and enforcement to pursue foreign companies bribing Ghanaian officials, officials accepting bribes, and Ghanaian citizens or companies bribing officials in other countries. Azar also highlighted that corruption investigations often span multiple countries, requiring Ghana to utilize evidence gathered by foreign investigators and improve its methods for tracing corrupt funds, which can move through various entities like companies, consultants, and bank accounts. He suggested that anti-corruption efforts should integrate with money-laundering laws, beneficial ownership rules, proceeds-of-crime laws, corporate liability, and asset recovery.
