Former Tema Oil Refinery MD Asante Berko Convicted in US Over $1 Million Ghana Power Plant Bribery Scheme

Asante Kwaku Berko, the 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 bribery and money laundering scheme. Berko, a dual US-Ghanaian citizen and former Goldman Sachs executive, was found guilty on August 6, 2026, of violating the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and related conspiracy charges. The conviction follows a nine-day trial overseen by U.S. District Judge Diane Gujarati, which detailed how Berko facilitated over $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials to secure a power plant contract for a Turkish energy company. He now faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison.

The trial revealed that the illicit activities took place between 2014 and 2017, involving a contract between the Government of Ghana and a Turkish energy firm. Berko used his position and financial expertise to funnel payments to high-ranking officials to ensure the project's approval. This verdict marks a significant development in international anti-corruption efforts, demonstrating the reach of U.S. laws in prosecuting financial crimes committed abroad by dual citizens. While a sentencing date has not yet been finalized, the severity of the charges reflects the scale of the corruption involved in the energy sector during that period.

Reacting to the conviction, prominent private legal practitioner Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar, described the case as a critical lesson for Ghana's anti-corruption agencies. He emphasized that the conviction highlights a gap in domestic enforcement, as the scheme involved both the giver and receivers of bribes. Prof. Asare urged Ghanaian authorities to adopt more comprehensive legal frameworks and faster judicial processes to address corruption internally, rather than relying on international jurisdictions to hold Ghanaian officials and their associates accountable for the exploitation of public resources.

In the wake of the verdict, the Ghanaian government has indicated that further legal actions may be on the horizon. Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, announced that the state is currently collaborating with U.S. authorities to investigate and prosecute other individuals implicated in the bribery web. While the identities of the Ghanaian officials who received the bribes remain undisclosed to the public, the Deputy Attorney-General confirmed that the ongoing cooperation aims to ensure all participants in the 2014-2017 scheme face justice. This move aligns with the broader anti-corruption agenda under President John Mahama’s administration as it seeks to strengthen institutional transparency.