Former TOR MD extradited from UK to US to face bribery charges in Ghanaian power plant deal

A former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, Asante Kwaku Berko, was arraigned today in federal court in Brooklyn on charges of bribing Ghanaian government officials and money laundering. 

Berko, a former executive director in Goldman Sachs Group Inc’s London subsidiary, allegedly used his position to secure a lucrative power plant development deal in Ghana through bribery.

Mr Asante Berko, a dual citizen of the United States and Ghana, conspired with others between 2014 and 2017 to funnel bribes to Ghanaian officials in exchange for their support of a Turkish energy company’s bid to build and operate a power plant in the country.

Berko, who was responsible for managing the deal between the bank, the Turkish company, and the Ghanaian government, allegedly facilitated bribe payments exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The indictment details instances of bribery, including a trip to Turkey for Ghanaian officials where they received $5,000 each, and payments to individuals within the Ghanaian Ministry of Power.

Emails recovered during the investigation reportedly show Berko discussing bribe payments, including $20,000 to the “MoP Girls,” who were deemed crucial for acquiring information.

Berko faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for money laundering conspiracy and five years for each count of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and conspiracy to violate the FCPA, if convicted.

“The defendant allegedly bribed Ghanaian government officials to secure a lucrative development contract, relying on the U.S. banking system to execute his scheme,” stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace. “We are committed to rooting out such bribery that creates unfair advantages and exploits the U.S. financial system.”

Berko’s extradition to the U.S. was secured with the cooperation of the U.K. government, Interpol, and the U.S. Marshals Service. The FBI’s International Corruption Unit conducted the investigation, and the case is being handled by the Eastern District of New York’s Business and Securities Fraud Section.

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