Ghana's Power Sector Plagued by AKSA Bribery Scandal Exposes Deep-Rooted Corruption

The scandal surrounding the AKSA bribery scheme in Ghana's power sector has exposed deep-seated corruption and abuse of power. The case centers around a deal to build a 370-megawatt heavy fuel oil power plant, which was facilitated by former Goldman Sachs Executive Director Asante Berko.

According to court records, Berko laundered illicit funds through shell companies and used coded language to describe bribe payments. He was directly compensated with a $2 million cash success fee by the Turkish energy firm for outmaneuvering international financial compliance and guaranteeing the execution of the contract.

The scandal also implicated Ghana's power minister, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, who was caught on secretly recorded video receiving a bribe of $1 million. The deal was finalized in 2015, despite internal warnings from Goldman Sachs about Berko's activities.

The verdict has been delivered by a U.S. federal jury, which convicted Berko on all counts of international bribery and money laundering. He faces up to 30 years in prison at his formal sentencing.