Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem Sai has revealed that the government is working with US authorities to bring to book other persons linked to the bribery scheme involving the development of a power plant in Ghana.

This follows the conviction of Ghanaian-American dual national and former investment banker of Goldman Sachs, Asante Kwaku Berko, by a federal jury in Brooklyn, United States, on charges of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), violating the Act, and money laundering conspiracy.

US court finds ex-TOR MD Berko guilty of paying millions in bribes in power plant deal

In a Facebook post on Saturday, August 8, 2026, Dr Srem Sai said the Attorney General is working with his US counterparts in the law enforcement agencies to ensure prosecution.

“The Honourable Attorney General is working with his United States counterparts to bring to book persons who are implicated in the bribery scheme related to the 2014-2017 power plant development contract between a Turkish energy company and the Government.

“This follows ASANTE KWAKU BERKO’s conviction by a United States federal jury in Brooklyn, New York, on charges of conspiracy to violate the United States’ Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other related laws,” he wrote.

About the case:

According to evidence presented at a US federal court, Berko and his co-conspirators allegedly bribed Ghanaian government officials in the approval of a power plant project in Ghana using code names like ‘holy rain’ to conceal their scheme.

Details of the alleged crime shared by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York, on August 6, 2026, revealed that in one email exchange in August 2015, a bribe recipient was described as waiting for the “holy rain” and would “appreciate it sooner rather than later.”

“Also in August 2015, the co-conspirators discussed how a bribe recipient was waiting for the “holy rain” (i.e., the bribe payment) and “would appreciate it sooner rather than later”, portions of the statement read.

The US Department of Justice said the “holy rain” was a reference to a bribe payment as Berko and his associates worked to secure the power plant deal for Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S.

The scheme is said to have involved more than $1 million in bribes to several Ghanaian officials, with payments discussed at different stages of the project.

In April 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators discussed paying $1 million to Ghana’s then Minister of Power and another $250,000 to the minister’s senior adviser.

“In April 2015, Berko and the conspirators discussed paying $1 million to the Ghanaian Minister of Power who was responsible for securing key approvals enabling the project to progress and $250,000 to his senior adviser,” it stated.

They also paid bribes to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to inspect equipment for the proposed power plant.

“Bribes were also paid to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to view equipment for the power plant,” the statement added.

The US added that after Ghana’s Parliament approved the agreement in July 2015, the conspirators continued discussions on how to make and conceal the payments.

One such payment involved $250,000 distributed to various individuals, including $46,000 paid to members of Parliament who had ratified the agreement. The evidence showed that Berko personally made the $46,000 payment.

The prosecutors said the conspirators did not openly describe the payments as bribes in their communications. Instead, they used coded language and other methods to conceal the scheme.

‘Holy Rain’ - How ex-Goldman Sachs banker coded $1m bribe payments in Ghana power deal

Berko also used his personal email account instead of his Goldman Sachs business account to discuss the deal and the payments, and instructed his co-conspirators to do the same.

The money was further concealed through shell companies, sham invoices, nominee account holders, and cash withdrawals.



MAG/EB

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