Asante Berko case: It was unnecessary – Fuseini Donkor on OSP’s naming persons of interest

The Deputy Director-General of the National Service Authority, Fuseini Donkor, has criticized the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for publicly naming five individuals as persons of interest in the Asante Kwaku Berko bribery case. Donkor believed the decision to make the identities public was unnecessary, as the investigation could have been handled discreetly until enough evidence was gathered.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV, he argued that revealing the names could make it harder for investigators to gather evidence, as the individuals might become more cautious and attempt to cover their tracks. Donkor emphasized that once someone is labeled a person of interest, they become more aware of the potential implications, leading them to take steps to avoid implicating themselves.

This follows the OSP's naming of five persons of interest, including former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Francis Walkson Kwasi Dzafa, Solomon Adjetey Sowah, Lyndon Nii Mettle, and Baffour Ankomah Brobbey, in connection with the bribery case involving Asante Kwaku Berko. The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has clarified that being identified as a person of interest does not equate to a person being a suspect or having been proven guilty.

The investigation is a response to the conviction of Asante Kwaku Berko in the United States for his involvement in a scheme involving over US$1 million in bribes paid to Ghanaian officials.