
Former Goldman Sachs banker convicted of bribery and money laundering in Ghana power plant deal
Asante Kwaku Berko, a Ghanaian national and former Goldman Sachs investment banker, has been convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on all counts related to a bribery case involving Ghanaian government officials. The charges included conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act FCPA, violating the FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Berko was found guilty of paying over $1 million in bribes to officials in connection with the development and financing of a power plant in Ghana. The scheme involved securing a deal between the Republic of Ghana and Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S., a Turkish energy company, for the construction and financing of a power plant during a national energy crisis. Berko and his co-conspirators discussed and made bribe payments to various Ghanaian officials, including the Minister of Power and members of the Ghanaian Parliament, to ensure the project's progression and ratification. To conceal the scheme, Berko used personal email accounts, lied to Goldman Sachs' compliance team, and laundered bribe payments through shell companies, sham invoices, nominee account holders, and cash withdrawals. Goldman Sachs ultimately withdrew from the deal due to corruption concerns. Berko faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced.



