Former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor has denied any involvement in the bribery case involving former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director and Goldman Sachs banker, Asante Kwaku Berko.
Dr. Donkor, through his lawyers, said he has no knowledge of the allegations linking him to the case and has never asked Mr Berko or anyone else for money.
“Our client instructs us in very crystal clear language that he has absolutely no knowledge about the allegations linked to him,” his lawyers said.
Dr. Donkor admitted that he was the Minister of Power at the time the events in question took place.
His ministry was involved in negotiations with ASKA Energy to generate electricity for Ghana during the severe power crisis popularly known as “Dumsor”.
According to his lawyers, the negotiations took place when Ghana was facing serious power shortages and long hours of load-shedding.
A technical team from Ghana also travelled to Istanbul, Turkey, during the negotiations to inspect equipment that was expected to be used to generate electricity.
The lawyers said such inspections were part of the normal process before equipment was shipped.
Dr. Donkor said he never met Asante Berko during the negotiations.
“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.
He also denied discussing any personal benefit with Mr Berko or receiving money from him.
“He has never met the said Mr Asante Berko all his life,” his lawyers said.
The lawyers added that Dr Donkor never authorised anyone to ask for money or any personal benefit on his behalf.
“He never received any money in any denomination or any personal benefit of any value from Mr Asante Berko or any other person.”
They said anyone who may have asked for money in Dr Donkor’s name did so for their own benefit.
The former minister also said he was not aware of any evidence from the US trial showing that he had demanded or received money from Mr Berko.
Dr. Donkor’s lawyers also warned individuals and media organisations against publishing claims that could damage his reputation.
They said any publication that wrongly links him to the alleged bribery could lead to legal action.
Dr. Donkor’s lawyers maintain that their client was not linked to any criminal wrongdoing by evidence presented during the US trial, as far as he is aware.
