Accra: The Herald has revealed the identities of the Members of Parliament (MPs) who were part of Parliament's Select Committee on Mines and Energy during the approval of a contentious emergency power agreement in 2015 between the Government of Ghana and Turkish energy company AKSA Enerjiretim AS. This disclosure comes in light of renewed scrutiny following the conviction of Asante Kwaku Berko, a former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), in the United States over his involvement in a bribery scheme exceeding US$1 million allegedly paid to Ghanaian officials.
According to Ghana Web, the committee was chaired by then Madina MP Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho, with Adam Mutawakilu as vice-chairman and former Adansi Asokwa MP Kwabena Tahir Hammond serving as the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) ranking member. The committee's membership included notable figures such as the late Mahama Toure Naser, Gershon KB Gbediaeme, and others. The administrative staff included Peace Fiawoyife as Clerk to the Committee, Benjamin Tachie Antiedu as Assistant Clerk, and Cephas Egbefome as Research Officer.
The Herald understands that during the consideration of the AKSA project, a technical inspection trip to Turkey was organized, involving Alhaji Sorogho and Hammond, among others, to inspect equipment meant for an emergency power plant in Ghana. This trip was reportedly arranged through the then Ministry of Power, headed by Dr. Kwabena Donkor. Dr. Donkor, who was also the MP for Pru East at the time, was part of the delegation.
The Herald has learned that while other MPs did not join the trip, they were allegedly compensated financially. A member of the committee's leadership reportedly managed the distribution of funds, often leading to disputes among members over the allocation. Dr. Donkor has publicly denied any involvement in the bribery scheme, stating he neither received nor was aware of any payments connected to it.
The US trial of Berko revealed that US$46,000 was purportedly paid to Ghanaian MPs who ratified the AKSA agreement. However, the US prosecution did not disclose all the alleged recipients. Alhaji Sorogho has denied receiving any bribe from Berko, asserting to local media that the committee's consideration of the AKSA agreement was thorough and transparent.
The controversy has also focused attention on KT Hammond, who has defended Dr. Donkor against the bribery allegations. Hammond, now affiliated with Cavendish Chambers, issued a statement on behalf of Dr. Donkor, emphasizing that neither had any knowledge of the bribery scheme. The statement has, however, raised questions about Hammond's own involvement in the transaction, given his role as the NPP ranking member of the Mines and Energy Committee at the time.
Berko's conviction on August 6, 2026, by a federal jury in Brooklyn, found him guilty of conspiring to pay bribes to multiple Ghanaian officials between 2014 and 2015. The payments were linked to developing a power plant project involving the Ghanaian government, AKSA, and Goldman Sachs. Berko is set for sentencing on November 10, 2026, facing up to 30 years in prison.
The case has intensified calls for a comprehensive investigation into the AKSA transaction. Manhyia South MP Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah has advocated for an inquiry to establish accountability and potentially lead to criminal prosecutions. He emphasized the need for institutional reforms to prevent similar issues in the future.
Dr. Donkor and Sorogho have consistently denied involvement in the bribery allegations, but the renewed scrutiny following Berko's conviction continues to cast a shadow over the roles and actions of various officials linked to the AKSA agreement.