Former TOR MD Asante Berko Convicted in U.S. Over $1 Million Ghana Power Plant Bribery Scheme

Asante Kwaku Berko, a dual U.S.-Ghanaian citizen and former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), has been convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, for his role in a multi-million dollar international bribery scheme. Following a nine-day trial, Berko was found guilty of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and money laundering. The charges relate to more than $1 million in bribes paid to Ghanaian government officials to secure a power plant deal for a Turkish energy company during Ghana's energy crisis. Berko, who previously served as an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs, faces up to 30 years in prison and remains in custody pending sentencing.

Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Berko used his position to subvert fair competition by facilitating financing and orchestrating illicit payments. To conceal the bribery, Berko and his co-conspirators utilized shell companies and fraudulent invoicing to move funds, including direct payments to the then-Ghanaian Minister of Power. U.S. authorities emphasized that the scheme was a calculated attempt to profit from a national energy crisis. Berko was extradited from the United Kingdom in July 2024 to face these charges, following an earlier civil action by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding the same conduct.

In related international legal developments, the U.S. justice system has moved against other high-profile political and corporate entities. A federal appeals court recently halted a $400 million ballroom construction project at the White House initiated by the Trump administration, asserting that the Executive Branch lacks the authority to make such modifications without Congressional approval. Simultaneously, the tech giant Meta has been ordered by a New Mexico judge to pay $567 million for child safety violations, while the state of New Jersey has launched a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging the exploitation of delivery drivers through low pay and restrictive working conditions.

The conviction of Asante Berko represents a significant victory for international anti-corruption efforts and highlights the reach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Assistant Attorney General Tysen Duva noted that the Department of Justice remains committed to combating corruption that undermines the integrity of global markets. For Ghana, the case underscores the ongoing challenges of transparency in large-scale infrastructure projects and the legal consequences for officials and executives who bypass ethical and legal standards to secure government contracts.