The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that it provided investigative and evidentiary assistance to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the prosecution of Ghanaian-American businessman, Asante Kwaku Berko, who has been convicted of bribery-related offences in the United States.
The OSP said its assistance contributed to the successful prosecution of Berko, who was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, on August 6, 2026, over his role in a scheme involving more than $1 million in bribes to multiple Ghanaian officials.
Berko, a dual citizen of Ghana and the United States, is a former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and former Executive Director in the Investment Banking Division of U.S.-based Goldman Sachs.
According to the OSP, the alleged bribery scheme took place between 2014 and 2015 in connection with the development and financing of a power plant in Ghana under an agreement between the Government of Ghana and Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S., a Turkish energy company and Goldman Sachs client.
In a statement issued following Berko’s conviction, the OSP said it worked with the FBI through Ghana’s established mutual legal assistance framework.
The office said the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) had acknowledged its contribution to the prosecution as providing “significant assistance to this prosecution.”
The disclosure provides the first indication from the OSP of its role in the U.S. investigation and prosecution, which has brought renewed attention to allegations of corruption involving Ghanaian officials in the power sector.
International cooperation
The OSP said the case demonstrated the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in different jurisdictions in tackling corruption that crosses national borders.
It explained that its collaboration with the FBI took place largely “behind the scenes”, with the successful conviction now demonstrating the value of mutual legal assistance between Ghana and the United States.
“This case highlights the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating cross-border corruption crimes,” the OSP said.
It added that the cooperation between the FBI and the OSP was conducted through the established legal framework for assisting foreign investigations and prosecutions.
The case is particularly significant because the alleged transactions involved Ghanaian public officials, a Turkish energy company and financial institutions operating across different jurisdictions.
Berko faces 30 years
Following his conviction, Berko faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, according to the OSP.
The U.S. court is scheduled to sentence him on November 10, 2026.
The conviction followed a U.S. prosecution which alleged that Berko conspired to pay and paid more than $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian officials in connection with the Aksa power plant project.
The U.S. authorities have alleged that the scheme was designed to secure approval for Aksa to build and operate the power plant during Ghana’s energy crisis.
The conviction has also prompted the Ghanaian government to indicate that persons in Ghana allegedly implicated in the scheme could face investigation.
Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem Sai, has said the Attorney-General was working with U.S. counterparts to bring persons implicated in the bribery scheme to book.
The OSP’s latest disclosure therefore adds a new dimension to the case, revealing that Ghanaian investigators played a role in supporting the U.S. prosecution.
The office said the successful outcome should serve as evidence of the importance of sustained international cooperation in investigating and prosecuting cross-border corruption.
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