Former Power Minister, Dr Kwabena Donkor, has firmly rejected allegations linking him to the bribery scheme for which former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director and Goldman Sachs banker, Asante Kwaku Berko, was convicted in the United States.
In a statement issued through his lawyers, Dr Donkor expressed surprise at the allegations circulating on social media, categorically denying ever asking for, demanding, or receiving any money from Mr Berko or any other person. His legal team stated that Dr Donkor had no knowledge of any payment requests made in his name and insisted he had never authorised anyone to seek money or personal benefits on his behalf.
Dr Donkor did, however, confirm that he was the Minister responsible for Power during the period covered by the US case, when Ghana was negotiating the development of a power plant with Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S. , referred to in the statement as ASKA Energy. These negotiations, his lawyers explained, took place at the height of Ghana’s electricity crisis, commonly known as “dumsor.”
As part of the project’s due diligence, a technical delegation from relevant power-sector institutions travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, to inspect equipment for the proposed power project. Dr Donkor’s lawyers described this trip as a standard pre-shipment inspection, emphasizing that Dr Donkor did not meet with Mr Berko during the negotiations, and, in fact, has never met Mr Berko at all.
The statement further stressed that Dr Donkor never discussed any personal payment or benefit with Mr Berko or anyone else in relation to the project. He asserted that if anyone sought money in his name, they did so without his knowledge or authority, and for their own benefit.
Dr Donkor’s legal team also challenged the interpretation that references during the US trial to funds allegedly being sought for a “Senior Ghana Official” constituted evidence against him. They maintained that, based on Dr Donkor’s understanding, no evidence was presented at trial to show that he personally requested, received, or benefited from any payment in any currency or form.
This statement comes days after a federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, convicted Mr Berko on August 6, 2026, for conspiring to pay, and paying, more than US$1 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials to secure a power plant deal. The case involved allegations of illicit payments routed through the US financial system.
Cautioning the public and media, Dr Donkor’s lawyers warned against publishing any allegations they consider defamatory or damaging to his reputation, promising swift legal action against any publication or statement that, in their view, wrongly impugns his integrity.
They concluded by reiterating that the circulating allegations against their client are not supported by evidence presented during the US proceedings, as far as Dr Donkor is aware.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com