Asante Kwaku Berko

Also known as: Mr Berko · Timis Berko · Mr. Berko · the defendant ASANTE KWAKU BERKO · former Goldman Sachs banker · former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director · Tim Leissner Berko

Former Goldman Sachs banker convicted in the United States for alleged bribery scheme involving Turkish energy company AKSA and Ghanaian power officials.

2026-08-072026-08-23

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

August 2026
15 AugJoy Online
… His intervention comes as a US criminal case involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko has revived questions in Ghana about alleged payments to public officials in connection with a power project with the Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji. …
AKSA power deal: Dafeamekpor says Ghana must confront its accountability deficit
15 AugJoy Online
… He pointed to the resignation of former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko while Gloria Akuffo was Attorney-General, arguing that no action was taken at the time. …
Dafeamekpor defends Ayine’s handling of Aksa case, faults past AGs
15 AugJoy Online
… His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the Aksa power transaction following allegations of bribery involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in connection with the deal. …
Dafeamekpor urges Parliament to stay out of Aksa probe, backs expert-led inquiry
15 AugJoy Online
… His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the AKSA Power transaction following allegations by the United States Department of Justice that former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner Berko participated in a scheme to bribe Ghanaian government officials to secure and retain business …
NPP has never used nolle prosequi to shield appointees – Baffour Awuah
15 AugJoy Online
… His comments follow renewed attention to the controversial power transaction after a United States prosecution involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko brought allegations of bribery connected to the power deal back into the spotlight. …
A-G owes it a duty to the State even if we don’t trust him – Dr Bomfeh on AKSA bribery probe
15 AugJoy Online
… His comments follow renewed attention to the controversial power transaction after a United States prosecution involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko brought allegations of bribery connected to the power deal back into the spotlight. …
Aksa bribery scandal: Ghana’s probe must be pursued with speed – Dafeamekpor
15 AugJoy Online
… A United States prosecution involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko has put allegations of bribery surrounding a Ghanaian power transaction back in the spotlight. …
Livestream: Newsfile discusses AKSA energy deal, legal vacation and GoldBod losses
15 AugJoy Online
… A United States prosecution involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko has put allegations of bribery surrounding a Ghanaian power transaction back in the spotlight. …
Playback: Newsfile discussed AKSA energy deal, legal vacation and GoldBod losses
14 AugJoy Online
… The controversy over trials during the legal vacation and the fallout from the conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States will be on the table for dissection. …
Prime Insight to tackle legal vacation controversy and $1million AKSA bribery case
14 AugJoy Online
… A United States prosecution involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko has put allegations of bribery surrounding a Ghanaian power transaction back in the spotlight. …
Livestream: Newsfile discusses AKSA energy deal, legal vacation and GoldBod losses

Politics

Ghana must investigate AKSA power deal, Dafeamekpor urges

The News

Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has called for renewed investigations into the AKSA power deal and sanctions where breaches are found, arguing Ghana should not rely solely on US proceedings to determine what happened in the transaction involving Ghanaian institutions and officials. His call follows a US criminal case involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko that has raised questions about alleged payments to public officials connected to the Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji project.

15 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 15 August

Ghana must investigate AKSA power deal, Dafeamekpor urges
Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has called for renewed investigations into the AKSA power deal and sanctions where breaches are found, arguing Ghana should not rely solely on US proceedings to determine what happened in the transaction involving Ghanaian institutions and officials. His call follows a US criminal case involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko that has raised questions about alleged payments to public officials connected to the Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji project.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Dafeamekpor defends Ayine's handling of Aksa power bribery probe
Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has defended Attorney-General Dr Dominic Ayine's handling of an alleged bribery scandal surrounding the Aksa power deal, contending that previous administrations failed to act on the matter and arguing the current investigation should proceed without partisan distractions.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Dafeamekpor backs expert-led inquiry into Aksa power bribery scandal
The Majority Chief Whip has urged Parliament to distance itself from investigating the alleged Aksa power deal bribery scandal, proposing instead a committee of experts from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, Attorney-General's Office, judiciary, and civil society organisations to avoid conflicts of interest.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP denies using nolle prosequi to shield appointees from prosecution
Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah defended the New Patriotic Party's record on corruption prosecutions, stating that no NPP government has used nolle prosequi to discontinue corruption cases against its appointees. He cited the prosecution and conviction of former Sports Minister Alhaji Mallam Issah under President Kufuor as evidence.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Attorney General must account for AKSA bribery probe information
Dr James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr says the Attorney General has a duty to inform Ghanaians about information his office holds concerning alleged bribery linked to the AKSA power deal and what action is being taken, regardless of public mistrust in state institutions.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Dafeamekpor urges swift Ghana probe into Aksa bribery allegations
The Majority Chief Whip has called for Ghana to pursue a thorough and speedy investigation into bribery allegations linked to the Aksa power plant transaction, following a US prosecution of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko that brought the decade-old matter back into focus.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Newsfile examines GoldBod losses, AKSA deal, and ORAL cases
Joy Online's Newsfile programme discusses three high-profile governance issues: the IMF's report of US$1.7 billion in losses related to Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, which GoldBod disputes; allegations of bribery in a power transaction involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko; and the status of Operation Recover All Loot cases during legal vacation.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Newsfile examines GoldBod losses, AKSA energy deal, and ORAL cases
A Newsfile episode discussed three accountability issues: the IMF's reported US$1.7 billion in losses associated with Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, with GoldBod disputing the characterization as a loss; allegations of bribery in a US prosecution involving a former Goldman Sachs banker and a Ghanaian power transaction; and questions about the progress of the government's Operation Recover All Loot cases during legal vacation.
15 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 14 August

Prime Insight to examine legal vacation and Goldman Sachs bribery issues
Joy Online reports that Prime Insight, a current affairs programme, will on Saturday, August 15, examine two legal and governance issues: the controversy over whether trials can proceed during the legal vacation, and the conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States. The two-hour programme will bring together political and legal voices to discuss their implications for Ghana's justice system and anti-corruption efforts.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Newsfile to examine AKSA deal, GoldBod losses, ORAL cases
Joy Online's Newsfile programme will discuss three issues: the IMF's reported US$1.7 billion in losses from Ghana's Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (with GoldBod disputing the characterisation), allegations of bribery in a Ghanaian power transaction involving a former Goldman Sachs banker, and the status of the government's Operation Recover All Loot cases during legal vacation.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Dr Amoah urges Mahama to pursue Berko conviction corruption leads
Businessman Dr Kofi Amoah has challenged President Mahama to use the US conviction of former TOR Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko for bribery and money-laundering linked to a Ghanaian power project as an opportunity to pursue those allegedly involved on Ghana's side, urging the Attorney-General to follow the case and hold officials accountable.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Manhyia South MP backs public inquiry into Aksa Energy bribery
Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah supports a public inquiry into the alleged Aksa Energy bribery scandal, arguing it would expose culprits, allow innocent persons to clear their names, and help prevent similar incidents from recurring.
14 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 13 August

NDC rebuts NPP's doubts over AG's AKSA investigation credibility
NDC Communications member Theophilus Dzimega rejected the NPP's claim that Attorney General Dominic Ayine cannot independently investigate bribery allegations surrounding the AKSA Energy Power Project, calling the concerns baseless. Dzimega challenged the NPP to explain its own position on plea negotiations involving former Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako before criticizing the Attorney General's handling of plea bargains.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
MP calls for investigation into Mahama relative's AKSA role
The Manhyia South MP has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of a President Mahama relative in the AKSA Energy power project, seeking to establish the person's identity, relationship to Mahama, and role in the transaction approval.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP MP accuses AG of separate justice system for NDC members
Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has accused Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine of creating a "separate justice system" for NDC members and associates, citing decisions to discontinue prosecutions involving individuals linked to the former NDC government. Awuah questioned the Attorney General's justification for dropping cases based on their length in court, arguing this does not constitute sufficient grounds for discontinuing a prosecution.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
MP questions why Ghana's institutions miss corruption foreign agencies detect
The Manhyia South MP has questioned why Ghana's security and anti-corruption institutions often fail to uncover corruption schemes later exposed by foreign law enforcement, citing the U.S. conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko on charges related to paying over US$1 million in bribes to Ghanaian officials for a power plant deal.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP questions AG's ability to impartially probe AKSA Energy deal
The opposition NPP said it lacks confidence in Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine's ability to independently investigate alleged bribery in the AKSA Energy power project, citing cases where he has discontinued prosecutions involving persons linked to previous and current administrations.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Indictment details Asante Berko's alleged bribery scheme in Ghana
An indictment filed in U.S. District Court shows that Asante Kwaku Berko allegedly conspired between December 2014 and March 2017 to make corrupt payments to Ghanaian Ministry of Power officials to obtain business that would benefit his interests and those of a U.S. Financial Institution and a Turkish Energy Company, with funds laundered through U.S. and other financial systems.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 12 August

Amidu accuses NDC of ignoring AKSA bribery investigation
Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has accused the ruling NDC of prioritising prosecution of political opponents while failing to act on investigation reports into the AKSA bribery scandal involving a Turkish energy company and Ghana's power sector. Amidu questioned why investigations that began under the Office of the Special Prosecutor in 2020 have not resulted in prosecutions despite available investigative resources.
12 August 2026 · Daily Guide →
Former Special Prosecutor: Ghana knew of AKSA bribery since 2020
Martin Amidu says the Office of the Special Prosecutor began investigating an alleged Asante Berko–AKSA bribery scheme in April 2020 after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil case, and was collaborating with the FBI before his resignation in November 2020. Amidu questioned why Ghana only announced plans to pursue implicated persons after Berko's U.S. conviction in August 2026.
12 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 11 August

EOCO urged to name all persons linked to Berko bribery case
An NPP Gender Committee spokesperson has called on the Economic and Organised Crime Office to conduct a thorough investigation into the Ghanaian aspect of former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko's US bribery conviction and make public the identities of all persons involved in the alleged scheme.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →
U.S. court convicts former Goldman Sachs executive on FCPA charges
A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Asante Kwaku Berko, a dual U.S.-Ghanaian citizen and former Goldman Sachs executive director, on all counts of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a substantive FCPA violation, and conspiracy to commit money laundering related to financing and construction of a power plant in Ghana between 2014 and 2017. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Berko and co-conspirators paid and conspired to pay more than $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian officials to secure the deal.
11 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
NPP demands swift action on Ghanaian officials in Berko bribery case
The NPP is calling on Ghanaian authorities to act immediately against individuals allegedly linked to former Goldman Sachs executive and TOR Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko's bribery conviction in a US federal court, arguing that authorities should use evidence from the US proceedings rather than conduct a new investigation, and that delays could undermine public confidence in the anti-corruption fight.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →
NPP-USA urges action on Berko US bribery conviction involving Ghana
The New Patriotic Party USA Branch has called on Ghana's anti-corruption and law enforcement institutions to investigate the Ghanaian dimension of a bribery case after a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted former Goldman Sachs executive Asante Kwaku Berko on charges including conspiracy to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and money laundering conspiracy involving a power plant contract.
11 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 10 August

K.T. Hammond unsure if OSP questioned Kwabena Donkor on Berko case
Former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor's lawyer K.T. Hammond says he is unsure whether his client has been contacted by Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor or US authorities following Asante Kwaku Berko's conviction on charges related to over US$1 million in bribes paid to Ghanaian officials in connection with an Aksa Energy power plant development.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Istanbul equipment inspection was standard due diligence, lawyer says
K.T. Hammond, lawyer for former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor, defended a Ghanaian technical team's trip to Istanbul to inspect equipment for the Aksa Energy power deal as standard technical due diligence required before major power-generation equipment is shipped to Ghana. The comments come amid renewed scrutiny following the U.S. conviction of former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko for his role in a bribery scheme involving Ghanaian officials and the power plant deal.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Emails and witness testimony crucial to prove Ghanaian officials' AKSA bribery involvement
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu says emails and identification of money recipients are key evidence for establishing whether Ghanaian public officials participated in the AKSA Energy bribery scheme. He noted that testimony from convicted former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko identifying individuals who received alleged payments would be the strongest proof for prosecution.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →
EOCO escalates bribery investigation following Berko's US conviction
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has intensified its investigation into the Ghanaian dimension of a bribery case involving former Goldman Sachs banker and former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko, following his conviction by a United States court. The Attorney-General has directed EOCO to escalate the probe using evidence and records obtained through lawful international cooperation with U.S. authorities.
10 August 2026 · The Chronicle →
Ghana has evidence for own AKSA Energy corruption investigation
A CDD-Ghana fellow says Ghanaian law enforcement agencies possess information that could support domestic investigations into AKSA Energy-related bribery allegations linked to a power plant deal, following collaboration with US authorities that contributed to a conviction.
10 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghanaian American convicted in US over $1m bribery scheme
A federal jury in Brooklyn has convicted Asante Kwaku Berko, former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director, on August 6, 2026, for conspiring to pay bribes totalling more than $1 million to Ghanaian officials between 2014 and 2015 linked to a power plant development agreement. Berko faces a maximum 30-year sentence, with sentencing scheduled for November 10, 2026.
10 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →