NewzPrivate legal practitioner Martin Kpebu says evidence gathered and tested in the United States could significantly strengthen the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) investigation into the Ghanaian dimension of the bribery case involving former Goldman Sachs banker and former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director, Asante Kweku Berko. His comments come after Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng named five persons of interest in the OSP’s investigation into the case. The persons named are former Power Minister Kwabena Donkor; former technical adviser to the Minister of Power, Francis Walkson Kwesi Gyata; former deputy director at the Ministry of Power, Solomon Adjetey Sowah; former director at Tricop Group Limited, Lindin George Nii Mettle; and Tricop Group Limited employee, Baffour Ankomah Brobbey.
Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on Wednesday, August 26, Mr Kpebu said the fact that evidence in the case had already been tested in a US court gives it significant weight for the Ghanaian investigation. “The fact that that evidence has already gone through another court and has stood the test of time… the fact that that evidence was able to meet the criminal standard, that is, proof beyond reasonable doubt, then it stands to reason that it would be good for us too.” Read also: Kwabena Donkor, four others named as persons of interest in Asante Berko case – OSP He said the evidence could therefore provide a strong foundation for the OSP’s case. It’s good evidence that should be able to help our case substantially.” Mr Kpebu, however, was critical of the OSP’s handling of the matter before the latest developments, accusing the Special Prosecutor of failing to adequately communicate updates on the investigation.
He said the US prosecution had helped bring the case back into focus. The Special Prosecutor had suppressed this case for various reasons. He wasn’t reporting on it.” Mr Kpebu said the US authorities would be interested in ensuring that the Ghanaian investigation is properly concluded, particularly because of the conviction secured in the United States.
On whether the OSP could still establish a bribery case if it is unable to identify the exact recipient of money allegedly paid, Mr Kpebu urged caution and said the investigation should be allowed to take its course. He noted that the US case had already es… Transparency International Ghana Executive Director Mary Addah says the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) decision to name persons of interest in the Ghanaian dimension of the Asante Kweku Berko bribery case is a positive step towards accountability.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Wednesday, August 26, Madam Addah stressed that being named a person of interest does not imply guilt and should not be interpreted as a finding of wrongdoing. She said publicly identifying the individuals who were in positions of authority during the period under investigation helps provide clarity on who was responsible for supervising the issues surrounding the AKSA deal. “As indicated, being a person of interest doesn’t make you guilty.
So naming you as a person of interest doesn’t count or take away from you. “So it’s a good step in the accountability drive because we’ve been asking ourselves, so who are these persons who are supposed to have presided over the issues and the concentration when it comes to the AKSA? Now, without a doubt, we know these were the people who were superintending,” she said.
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