Former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor has threatened legal action against individuals or media organisations that publish allegations linking him to the bribery case involving former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director and Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko.
In a statement issued through his lawyers, Dr Donkor emphatically denied any involvement in the alleged bribery scheme and said he had “absolutely no knowledge” of claims circulating on social media that he requested or received money from Mr Berko.
“Our client instructs us in very crystal clear language that he has absolutely no knowledge about the allegations linked to him. He completely and emphatically denies any knowledge of a request or demand for any money as alleged,” the statement said.
The lawyers warned that any publication suggesting otherwise would be met with “immediate legal proceedings”, arguing that such claims could seriously damage Dr Donkor’s reputation and integrity.
Denies ever meeting Berko
While acknowledging that Dr Donkor was Minister for Power during negotiations with Turkish energy company ASKA Energy at the height of Ghana’s power crisis, his lawyers insisted that he never met Mr Berko.
“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,” the statement said.
The lawyers also said Dr Donkor never discussed any personal benefit with Mr Berko, never authorised anyone to seek money on his behalf and never received any payment or other benefit from him or any other person.
“He never received any money in any denomination or any personal benefit of any value from Mr Asante Berko or any other person,” the statement added.
Negotiations acknowledged
The statement confirmed that the Ministry of Power negotiated with ASKA Energy during the period of severe electricity shortages popularly known as “Dumsor.”
According to the lawyers, a technical team from Ghana travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, to inspect power generation equipment, describing the trip as a standard pre-shipment inspection process.
They maintained, however, that any individual who may have sought money while invoking Dr Donkor’s name acted independently and without his authority.
Questions basis of allegations
Dr Donkor’s legal team said their client was unaware of any evidence presented during the US federal trial that implicated him in demanding or receiving money.
The lawyers argued that references by other individuals to a “Senior Ghana Official” could not be construed as evidence of criminal conduct against Dr Donkor.
The statement was issued following the conviction of Asante Kwaku Berko by a federal jury in Brooklyn on August 6, 2026, over his role in a bribery scheme involving Ghanaian government officials in connection with a power plant transaction.
Dr Donkor’s lawyers insisted that, to the best of their client’s knowledge, no evidence from the US proceedings directly linked him to the alleged bribery scheme.
