Former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor has strongly denied allegations linking him to the bribery scandal involving former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director and ex-Goldman Sachs banker, Asante Kwaku Berko.
In a statement issued through his lawyers, Dr Donkor said he was unaware of the allegations circulating on social media and insisted that he had never demanded or solicited money from Mr Berko or anyone else.
His lawyers said their client had “absolutely no knowledge” of the claims and “completely and emphatically” rejected any suggestion that he had requested or received money in connection with the matter.
Dr Donkor acknowledged that he was the Minister responsible for Power during the period covered by the allegations, when the government was engaged in negotiations with Turkish energy company ASKA Energy to generate electricity for Ghana.
The negotiations took place during a severe power crisis characterised by extensive load-shedding, commonly referred to as “Dumsor.”
According to his lawyers, a technical delegation made up of officials from relevant institutions within the power sector travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, as part of the process to inspect equipment that was expected to be used for power generation in Ghana.
They described the trip as part of the normal pre-shipment inspection process.
Dr Donkor, however, said he never met Berko during the negotiations and had no dealings with him at any point.
“According to our client, at no point in the course of this negotiation did he once set eyes on the said Mr Asante Berko nor has he since,” his lawyers stated.
The former minister also denied discussing any personal financial benefit with Berko or authorising anyone to negotiate such an arrangement on his behalf.
His lawyers maintained that he neither received money nor any other personal benefit from Berko or any other individual connected to the negotiations.
They further argued that if anyone demanded money in Dr Donkor’s name, such a person would have been acting for their own benefit and without his authority.
Dr Donkor also questioned whether evidence presented during the US trial established any direct link between him and a demand for money.
His lawyers said he did not understand the evidence to show that he had requested or received any payment, whether in Ghana cedis, US dollars or any other form of benefit.
They also rejected the suggestion that references made by other individuals to payments allegedly intended for a “Senior Ghana Official” amounted to evidence of wrongdoing by Dr Donkor.
According to the lawyers, such statements by third parties could not automatically be interpreted as proof that their client had committed a criminal offence.
The former minister’s legal team has consequently warned against publications or statements that could damage his reputation.
They said any material that contradicts Dr Donkor’s position and seeks to undermine his character or integrity could trigger immediate legal action.
The statement follows the conviction of Berko by a US federal jury in Brooklyn on August 6, 2026, in connection with a bribery scheme involving Ghanaian government officials.
Berko was found guilty over his alleged involvement in a scheme to bribe officials during the first administration of President John Dramani Mahama in an effort to secure a power plant contract, as well as laundering illicit payments through the US financial system.
Dr Donkor’s lawyers have maintained that, based on their client’s understanding of the proceedings, the evidence presented at the US trial did not establish that he demanded or received any money from Berko.
