New york: The phrase 'holy rain' was used as a code for bribe payments in a scheme allegedly involving Ghanaian government officials and Asante Kwaku Berko, a former Goldman Sachs executive.
According to Ghana Web, evidence presented at a US federal court revealed that Berko, a dual citizen of the United States and Ghana, and his co-conspirators used the phrase while discussing money to be paid to individuals involved in the approval of a power plant project in Ghana. Details of the alleged crime shared by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York, on August 6, 2026, highlighted an email exchange in August 2015 where a bribe recipient was described as waiting for the 'holy rain' and would 'appreciate it sooner rather than later.'
The US Department of Justice stated that the 'holy rain' was a reference to a bribe payment as Berko and his associates worked to secure the power plant deal for Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S. The scheme reportedly involved more than $1 million in bribes to several Ghanaian officials, with payments discussed at various stages of the project.
In April 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators planned to pay $1 million to Ghana's then Minister of Power and another $250,000 to the minister's senior adviser. Additionally, bribes were paid to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to inspect equipment for the proposed power plant. Following Ghana's Parliament approval of the agreement in July 2015, the conspirators continued discussions on making and concealing the payments.
One payment involved $250,000 distributed to various individuals, including $46,000 paid to members of Parliament who had ratified the agreement. Evidence showed that Berko personally made the $46,000 payment. Prosecutors indicated that the conspirators used coded language and other methods to conceal the scheme, avoiding openly describing the payments as bribes in their communications.
Berko utilized his personal email account instead of his Goldman Sachs business account for discussions about the deal and payments, instructing his co-conspirators to do the same. The money was further concealed through shell companies, sham invoices, nominee account holders, and cash withdrawals.
Berko was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on charges of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, violating the Act, and money laundering conspiracy. He was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing and faces up to 30 years in prison.