Businessman and economist Dr Kofi Amoah has urged President John Dramani Mahama to direct the Attorney-General to investigate and, where the evidence warrants, prosecute Ghanaian officials allegedly linked to the corruption case involving former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko.
Dr Amoah described the recent conviction of Mr Berko by a United States federal jury as a rare opportunity for Ghana to demonstrate its commitment to fighting corruption.
In a commentary on social media, he argued that the US judicial process, with cooperation from the United Kingdom, had already provided important evidence that could help Ghana identify officials and parliamentarians who allegedly participated in or benefited from the bribery scheme.
“Have your Attorney-General pursue this case,” Dr Amoah urged President Mahama, insisting that Ghana must move beyond declarations against corruption and take concrete action against those implicated.
The call follows the conviction of Mr Berko in the United States on charges including conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, violating the Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the US Department of Justice, Mr Berko was involved in a power plant transaction between the Government of Ghana and Turkish energy company Aksa Energy while serving as an Executive Director in Goldman Sachs’ Investment Banking Division.
Prosecutors alleged that Mr Berko and his co-conspirators paid more than $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials to secure approvals for the power project.
The prosecution further alleged that payments were discussed in connection with Ghana’s then Minister of Power, a senior adviser and Members of Parliament who had ratified the agreement.
The US authorities have, however, not identified the Ghanaian officials referenced in the case in the latest conviction announcement.
It is this aspect of the case that Dr Amoah believes Ghana must now pursue.
He said the country had established institutions such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, alongside various anti-corruption laws, but argued that corruption continued to deprive citizens of resources needed for national development.
“Our country has become a looting ground for the powerful whilst the ordinary people suffer and retrogress regardless of how hard they work,” he said.
Dr Amoah also linked the matter to President Mahama’s anti-corruption agenda, particularly the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative.
He challenged the President to demonstrate that the government’s anti-corruption campaign would apply regardless of the political affiliation of persons implicated.
According to Dr Amoah, while individuals targeted under ORAL may largely be associated with the previous governing party, the Ghanaian officials allegedly connected to the Berko case appear, based on available information, to be largely associated with the current governing party.
He said this presents an opportunity for the government to prove that its fight against corruption is based on principle rather than political considerations.
“The people who seem culpable in the ‘dumsor’ corruption judgement by a US court seem to be largely, not exclusively, from the ruling political party,” he wrote.
Dr Amoah appealed to President Mahama not to allow the opportunity to pass, describing it as a potentially historic moment to confront corruption within government ministries and Parliament.
“Our dearest President Mahama, only God knows the real reason why you’re the head of state at this particular juncture in Ghana’s history. Please don’t fail us, don’t fail Ghana because this opportunity of a perfect storm to nip corruption at its most fertile center, ministries and parliament, may never come in another hundred years,” he said.
He maintained that the US conviction could become a turning point in Ghana’s fight against corruption if authorities followed the evidence and pursued accountability on the Ghanaian side of the case.
“Corruption must never pay; Ghana must act,” Dr Amoah declared.
He further argued that tackling corruption was essential to Ghana’s long-term development and called on the government to ensure that those found culpable face the consequences of their actions.
“Cleanse Ghana of corruption so that Nkrumah’s independence for Ghana can meet Mahama’s freedom from corruption and our dear country can really start her journey for progress on a sound and hopeful footing,” he said.
Dr Amoah concluded by urging President Mahama to seize what he described as a unique opportunity to demonstrate through action that corruption would not be tolerated, regardless of who may be implicated.
“Luck = Preparation + Opportunity. When you’re prepared and the opportunity knocks, it is your luck to pounce and redeem what you have been searching for,” he wrote.
See the post below:
CORRUPTION MUST NEVER PAY, GHANA MUST ACT
— CitizenKofi (@amoah_citizen) August 7, 2026
The US Govt thru its Judicial Service has gifted to the Govt and people of Ghana a torchlight and case records to proceed in identifying high level Ghanaian officials and parliamentarians who participated and/or benefitted from the…
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