Berko bribery case: Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe demands full transparency

Founding member of Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe, has called for full transparency in investigations into allegations of bribery involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko and Ghanaian officials.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said no one implicated in the case should be shielded, regardless of their political affiliation.

His comments follow the conviction of Mr Berko by a US federal jury over a bribery scheme linked to the development and financing of a power plant in Ghana.

Mr Berko, a dual US-Ghanaian citizen and former managing director of Ghana's Tema Oil Refinery, was convicted in Brooklyn, New York, of conspiracy to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, violating the Act and money-laundering conspiracy.

He faces up to 30 years in prison when sentenced and remains in custody.

Speaking on TV3 on Monday, Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said the names of people mentioned during the US proceedings should be made public in Ghana.

“The most important thing is that the case that was held outside the borders of this country has mentioned names, and these names should not be withheld,” he said.

Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) are investigating the Ghanaian dimension of the case.

Dr Nyaho-Tamakloe said he expected the Ghanaian investigations to corroborate the findings of the US court.

“If EOCO and OSP have been named for finally going into these, I believe strongly they would agree with what has been said in the US court,” he said.

“There shouldn’t be any person who should be shielded.”

He also called for equal treatment of anyone implicated in the allegations.

“In this allegation, we demand transparency and there shouldn’t be any selective justice whatsoever,” he said.

What happened in the US case?

US prosecutors said Mr Berko conspired with others to pay more than $1m in bribes to Ghanaian government officials to help secure approvals for a power plant project involving Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji.

The alleged scheme dates back to 2014 and 2015, when Mr Berko was working as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs and was involved in the deal.

Prosecutors alleged that payments were made to officials at different levels of Ghana's government, including people involved in approving the project.

The US government also alleged that some payments were disguised through shell companies, false invoices and

other methods to conceal their purpose.

Goldman Sachs eventually withdrew from the deal because of corruption concerns, according to US prosecutors.

Mr Berko was extradited from the UK to the US in July 2024 to face the charges.

His conviction followed a nine-day trial before US District Judge Diane Gujarati.

The case has now prompted calls in Ghana for authorities to establish whether any officials or other individuals in the country were involved and whether they should face prosecution.

EOCO and the OSP have said they are examining the Ghanaian dimension of the case, including possible financial links and assets connected to suspected criminal conduct.

The Ghanaian investigations will determine whether any further action should be taken against individuals in Ghana.