Former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor has denied any involvement in allegations of bribery linked to the United States case involving former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Berko.
In a statement issued through his lawyers, Dr. Donkor said he had “absolutely no knowledge” of allegations circulating on social media and emphatically denied ever requesting, demanding or receiving money from Mr. Berko or any other person.
“Our client instructs us in very crystal clear language that he has absolutely no knowledge about the allegations linked to him. He completely and emphatically denies any knowledge of a request or demand for any money as alleged,” his lawyers said.
The lawyers acknowledged that Dr. Donkor was the Minister responsible for Power during the period in question, when the government was negotiating with Turkish energy company AKSA Energy to generate electricity for Ghana amid the severe power crisis popularly known as “Dumsor.”
“Our client also admits that the State, through his then Ministry, the Ministry of Power, negotiated with AKSA Energy for the generation of electric power in Ghana during the relevant period,” the statement said.
According to the lawyers, the negotiations took place at a time when Ghana was experiencing “extreme load-shedding” as a result of a severe power emergency. They said the government was therefore taking steps to secure additional electricity generation capacity to help address the crisis.
Technical Team Travelled to Turkey
The lawyers also confirmed that a technical team comprising representatives from relevant power sector institutions travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, during the negotiations to inspect equipment intended for the power project.
They described the inspection as part of the normal process involved in assessing equipment before shipment.
“This was and is the regular practice of pre-shipment inspection,” the lawyers said.
Dr. Donkor, however, maintains that he personally had no dealings with Asante Berko during the negotiations.
“According to our client, at no point in the course of this negotiation did he once set eyes on the said Mr Asante Berko nor has he since,” the statement said.
The former minister further denied discussing any personal benefit with Mr. Berko or any other person in connection with the power deal.
“He has never met the said Mr Asante Berko all his life; he never discussed any personal benefit of any value whatsoever with Mr Asante Berko or any other person for that matter,” his lawyers said.
Denies Receiving Money or Authorising Anyone to Demand Funds
Dr. Donkor also denied receiving money or any other personal benefit from Mr. Berko or anyone else.
“He never authorised any person to discuss any such matters on his behalf; he never received any money in any denomination or any personal benefit of any value from Mr Asante Berko or any other person,” the lawyers said.
The lawyers added that if any individual demanded money while using Dr. Donkor’s name, such a person would have been acting independently and for their own benefit.
“Any person or persons who may have made any such criminal demand in his name did so for that person or persons’ own benefit,” they said.
Questions Evidence Linking Him to Bribery
Dr. Donkor has also questioned whether evidence presented during the U.S. trial directly connected him to any demand or receipt of money.
“Our client does not understand that any evidence was led in the US trial which linked him with demanding or receiving any money, cedis or dollars or anything of value to him personally,” his lawyers said.
He also rejected the suggestion that evidence indicating that other individuals had allegedly sought money from their principals for the benefit of a “Senior Ghana Official” could, by itself, establish criminal wrongdoing against him.
“He does not accept that evidence that some other person or persons claimed that they required money from their principals for the benefit of ‘Senior Ghana Official’ or any other title holder metamorphosed into any evidence of criminality or wrongdoing against him,” the statement said.
Lawyers Warn Against Defamatory Publications
The lawyers have meanwhile warned against publications or statements they believe could damage Dr. Donkor’s reputation and integrity.
They said they had instructions to take legal action against any publication or statement that contradicts their client’s position and is considered damaging to his reputation.
“We are instructed to notify the general public accordingly, and to state that any publication or statement of any kind which could be interpreted as contrary to the instructions clearly stated above and which will seek to impugn on the reputation and integrity of our client SHALL result in immediate legal proceedings,” the lawyers warned.
Background to the Asante Berko Case
The statement follows the conviction of former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, Asante Kwaku Berko, by a U.S. federal jury in Brooklyn on August 6, 2026, in a case involving an alleged bribery scheme connected to a power plant deal in Ghana.
Mr. Berko, a former Goldman Sachs banker, was convicted on charges related to his alleged role in bribing Ghanaian government officials during the administration of former President John Dramani Mahama to secure approval for a lucrative power project.
The U.S. case has triggered renewed public debate in Ghana over the circumstances surrounding the AKSA power agreement and the possible involvement of Ghanaian officials.
Dr. Kwabena Donkor’s lawyers, however, maintain that their client has never demanded or received money from Asante Berko and has not been linked to any personal financial benefit arising from the transaction.
Story by Ama Frimpomaa