I never bribed government officials, MPs in power deal – Asante Berko insists

A former banker at Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Asante Berko has denied arranging at least $2.5 million in bribes to be paid to Ghana government officials and Members of Parliament in a bid to help a Turkish company secure a power purchase agreement deal in Ghana.

The former banker, Asante Berko has been charged by the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly making payment to gain approval for a client’s power plant project from “2015 through at least 2016,” according to court documents from New York.

Mr. Berko, who is also currently the Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery is said to have arranged the bribes for a Turkish energy company to funnel the money to a Ghana-based intermediary.

The former Banker in his statement clarified that although SEC had initiated proceedings against him, allegations that he bribed government officials and MPs are completely false.

“While it is true that the SEC has just this week issued such proceedings against me, the allegations that government officials and members of Parliament were bribed by me are completely false.

“I state categorically that I have not paid any bribes to government officials, Members of Parliament nor any officials of Parlaiment. I have had no contact with Members of Parliament nor officials of Parliament, regarding the approval of this transaction.”

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