*Former Power Minister Kwabena Donkor Denies Bribery Allegations in US Asante Berko Case*

The Former Minister for  Power, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, has denied any involvement in bribery allegations linked to the US case of Mr. Asante Berko, saying he has “absolutely no knowledge” of any demand or payment of money in his name.

In a press statement released by his lawyers and signed by Hon  Kwabena Tahir Hammond, Esq., Head of Chambers, Dr. Donkor said the claims circulating on social media that associate him with the case are false.

In the statement, the lawyers stated that while Dr. Donkor was the Minister of Power at the time in question, he was not involved in any wrongdoing.

 “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. 

It added that he has “never met the said Mr Asante Berko all his life.”

Dr. Donkor said he “never discussed any personal benefit of any value whatsoever with Mr Asante Berko or any other person,” and “never authorised any person to discuss any such matters on his behalf.”

The statement emphatically denied that he “received any money in any denomination or any personal benefit of any value from Mr Asante Berko or any other person.”

The lawyers confirmed that the Ministry of Power, under Dr. Donkor, negotiated with ASKA Energy for power generation during Ghana’s power crisis period widely referred to as ‘dumsor’. 

As part of standard procedure, a technical team of power sector stakeholders was sent to Istanbul, Turkey, for a pre-shipment inspection of equipment.

The statement addressed reports from the US trial suggesting money was requested for the benefit of a “Senior Ghana Official.”

“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,” the lawyers said.

It further stated that claims by “some other person or persons” that they required money for a senior official “does not metamorphosed into any evidence of criminality or wrong doing against him.”

 The release added that anyone who may have made such a demand “in his name did so for that person' or persons' own benefit.”

The lawyers notified the public 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 their client SHALL result in immediate legal proceedings.”

However, Mr. Asante Berko, a former executive, has been the subject of a US prosecution related to alleged bribery in connection with a power project in Ghana.

 Dr. Donkor served as Minister of Power during the period of severe load-shedding between 2015 and 2016.

Report filed   by PKB