NewzThe New Patriotic Party (NPP) is demanding swift action against individuals allegedly linked to the bribery case involving former Goldman Sachs executive and former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director, Asante Kwaku Berko, following his conviction by a United States federal court. The opposition party argues that Ghanaian authorities should rely on information and evidence that emerged during the US proceedings rather than starting what it considers another lengthy investigation into matters that have already been examined in court. The NPP said the case involved allegations of payments to Ghanaian officials in connection with a power plant project and insisted that the identities of persons allegedly implicated should now be subjected to appropriate legal processes in Ghana.
The party said any delay in acting on the available information could undermine public confidence in the country’s fight against corruption. But we have been told that they are going to investigate. Investigate what?” NPP Deputy General Secretary Haruna Mohammed said in an interview with Citi FM.
Mr Mohammed further criticised the government’s handling of the matter, arguing that President John Dramani Mahama must demonstrate leadership in dealing with corruption allegations and other issues confronting the country. His comments follow the conviction of Mr Berko by a US federal jury in Brooklyn on charges arising from an alleged bribery scheme involving Ghanaian government officials and a power plant project. The case has renewed calls for Ghanaian authorities to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute individuals connected to the Ghanaian aspect of the matter.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has commenced investigations into the Ghanaian dimension of the case, including efforts to trace funds and assets that may be connected to suspected criminal conduct. The New Patriotic Party USA Branch has challenged Ghana’s anti-corruption and law enforcement institutions to take concrete action following the conviction in the United States of former Goldman Sachs executive Asante Kwaku Berko in a bribery case involving Ghanaian officials. In a satirical commentary issued by its Communications team, NPP-USA questioned what it described as Ghana’s limited response to the case after a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Mr Berko on charges including conspiracy to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, substantive FCPA violations and money laundering conspiracy.
The group said the conviction should prompt the Office of the Attorney-General, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to pursue the Ghanaian dimension of the case. The group said the US proceedings had established a detailed trail involving alleged bribe payments, shell companies, sham invoices and financial transfers linked to efforts to secure a power plant contract for Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji. It questioned why Ghana should not use the evidence that emerged from the US trial to advance its own investigations and determine whether any Ghanaian officials or intermediaries violated the country’s laws.
NPP-USA also questioned claims by Ghana’s Deputy Attorney-General that Ghanaian authorities had collaborated with their US counterparts in bringing implicated persons to justice. It argued that while international cooperation was important, the US prosecution had ultimately produced the arrest, trial and conviction, leaving Ghana with the responsibility to pursue any offences falling within its jurisdiction. “Collaboration,” the group said, had become “a word doing more gymnastics than an Azumah Nelson comeback fight,” arguing that Ghana should not merely observe proceedings abroad and treat the outcome as the end of the matter.
Summary from source