OSP cautions against linking US conviction of Berko directly to bribery claims in Ghana

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has advised against assuming that the US conviction of former Goldman Sachs banker Asante Kwaku Berko automatically proves bribery allegations against individuals in Ghana. According to Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research and Communications at the OSP, the US conviction provides leads for Ghana's investigation but does not, on its own, establish guilt for specific individuals in the country.

The OSP's investigation requires the same level of evidence gathering and legal standards as US courts, and Berko's conviction was based on evidence such as emails, a personal ledger, and a witness statement. Darko highlighted an example where Berko allegedly claimed money was given to Evans Mensah, stating that such claims still need to be independently proven under Ghanaian law.

The OSP has named five persons of interest in the local aspect of Berko's bribery case, including individuals from Ghana's power sector and Tricop Group. Darko urged the public to allow enough time for the OSP's investigation, emphasizing the complexity and resources needed for such cases. He noted that the US investigation took six years and involved extradition, while the OSP's process requires careful examination of the evidence before deciding on potential prosecutions in Ghana.