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United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko
Date: 08-10-2026
Case Number: 1:20-cr-00328
Judge: Diane Gujarati
Court:
United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko
Plaintiff's Attorney: Alixandra Eleis Smith, Elina Rubin-Smith, essica Weigel, Katherine Nielsen, Katherine Raut, Nicholas Michael Axelrod, Tara Brigit McGrath
Defendant's Attorney: Amanda Page Masselam Strachan, Boyd M. Johnson , III, Eliot Kim, Emily Gruener, Robert Boone, Walker Schneider
Asante Kwaku Berko, age 52, a citizen of the United Kingdom and Ghana, conspired to pay more than $1 million in bribes to multiple Ghanian government officials in connection with the development and financing of a power plant estimated to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in profits.
During the scheme, Berko and his co-conspirators paid and conspired to pay bribes to individuals at numerous levels of the Ghanaian government to ensure that Aksa won its bid to build and operate the power plant. For example, in April 2015, Berko and the conspirators discussed paying $1 million to the Ghanaian Minister of Power who was responsible for securing key approvals enabling the project to progress and $250,000 to his senior adviser. Bribes were also paid to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to view equipment for the power plant. After the power plant deal was ratified by the Ghanaian parliament in July 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators exchanged detailed emails regarding bribe payments. For example, in August 2015, they discussed $250,000 in bribe payments paid to various individuals, including $46,000 to members of the Ghanaian Parliament, which ratified the agreement between Aksa and the government of Ghana, paid by Berko himself. Also in August 2015, the co-conspirators discussed how a bribe recipient was waiting for the “holy rain” (i.e., the bribe payment) and “would appreciate it sooner rather than later.”
To conceal the scheme from Goldman and others, Berko lied to the compliance team at Goldman that was responsible for vetting the deal. Berko also used his personal email account, instead of his Goldman business email account, to discuss the deal and the bribe payments and directed his co-conspirators to do the same. In addition, Berko and his co-conspirators concealed and laundered the bribe payments using shell companies, sham invoices, nominee account holders and cash withdrawals. Payments in furtherance of the bribery scheme were laundered through U.S. and foreign bank accounts. Goldman ultimately withdrew from the deal due to corruption concerns.
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko?
The outcome was: The Defendant was found guilty by a jury.
Which court heard United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko?
This case was heard in <H2> <CENTER> United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko <h2> </center>, NY. The presiding judge was Diane Gujarati.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko?
Plaintiff's attorney: Alixandra Eleis Smith, Elina Rubin-Smith, essica Weigel, Katherine Nielsen, Katherine Raut, Nicholas Michael Axelrod, Tara Brigit McGrath. Defendant's attorney: Amanda Page Masselam Strachan, Boyd M. Johnson , III, Eliot Kim, Emily Gruener, Robert Boone, Walker Schneider.
When was United States of America v. Asante Kwaku Berko decided?
This case was decided on August 10, 2026.