Lawyer for former Power Minister Kwabena Donkor, Kobina Tahir (K.T.) Hammond, says he has no instructions from his client on whether the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has contacted him over the bribery allegations surrounding the Aksa Energy deal.
Mr Hammond made the disclosure during an interview on Joy FM’s Top Story while responding to questions about whether Dr Donkor had been approached by the OSP or the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
Asked directly whether the OSP had contacted his client, the lawyer replied: “I’m not so instructed.”
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of the Aksa Energy power agreement following developments in the United States and allegations of payments linked to the transaction.
Dr Donkor was the Minister responsible for Power when the agreement between the Government of Ghana and Aksa Energy was negotiated.
While acknowledging his client’s role in overseeing the transaction, Mr Hammond insisted that the former minister did not engage in any improper conduct.
According to him, Dr Donkor’s role was primarily supervisory, including ensuring that the agreement went through the appropriate processes and was prepared for submission to Parliament for ratification.
Mr Hammond also strongly denied claims that Dr Donkor had any dealings with Asante Berko, the former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), in connection with the agreement.
“He didn’t meet this man, Berko. He never negotiated with him. He never made any demand,” he said.
The lawyer further maintained that Dr Donkor neither demanded nor received money in relation to the Aksa Energy transaction.
He said any person who may have demanded money while claiming to be acting on behalf of the former minister would have done so without his client’s knowledge or authorisation.
“If anybody goes on the frolic of their own and makes some outrageous and preposterous demands on his behalf, he did not authorise that. Certain individuals would have done it for their own benefit, and he cannot be held responsible for that,” Mr Hammond stated.
Mr Hammond also defended the participation of Ghanaian technical officials who travelled to Istanbul to inspect equipment connected to the power project.
He explained that such inspections were a normal part of major power projects and were intended to allow engineers and technical representatives to assess equipment before its shipment to Ghana.
According to him, the officials were expected to verify the quality, quantity and suitability of the equipment for the intended project.
The Aksa Energy deal has come under renewed scrutiny as Ghanaian authorities examine allegations of improper payments and the possible involvement of public officials in the transaction.
The OSP and EOCO have taken an interest in the matter, with investigations expected to determine whether any offences were committed and whether Ghanaian officials were involved in any alleged improper payments.
