The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has cautioned against assuming that the conviction of former Goldman Sachs investment banker and former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director, Asante Kwaku Berko, in the United States automatically establishes criminal liability against individuals in Ghana.
EOCO said the conclusion of proceedings against Mr Berko in the US does not, by itself, establish criminal liability for any person in Ghana.
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“The conclusion of proceedings against Mr. Berko in the United States does not, by itself, establish criminal liability on the part of any person in Ghana,” the Office said in a statement issued on Monday, August 10, 2026.
EOCO begins probe
The caution comes as EOCO intensifies investigations into the Ghanaian dimension of the Asante Berko bribery case following his conviction in the United States.
According to EOCO, it received a request from its US counterparts last year regarding investigations into an alleged bribery scheme.
The request sought information about specific individuals in Ghana who were considered relevant to the US investigation, including a former Minister of State and public servants.
“Following receipt of the request, EOCO, in collaboration with the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, commenced preliminary work in relation to the Ghanaian aspects of the matter,” the Office said.
EOCO explained that the Ghanaian investigation would not be based solely on the outcome of the US proceedings.
Instead, individuals whose names emerge from evidence obtained through international cooperation will be assessed separately based on evidence directly relevant to them and in accordance with Ghanaian law.
“Any individual whose name appears in evidence obtained through the international cooperation process will be assessed independently based on the evidence relevant to that person and in accordance with Ghanaian law,” EOCO said.
US evidence
EOCO said it monitored proceedings in the United States because evidence emerging from the case could help determine the scope and direction of a comprehensive investigation in Ghana.
Following Asante Berko’s conviction, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice engaged the appropriate US authorities to obtain relevant evidence, records and information needed to advance the Ghanaian investigation.
The Attorney-General has since directed EOCO to escalate its investigations as the relevant information and official records are obtained from the competent US authorities.
EOCO said its collaboration with US law enforcement authorities and the Attorney-General’s Office remains active.
“The process of obtaining relevant records through lawful international cooperation is critical to ensuring that any Ghanaian investigation is comprehensive, evidence-based and capable of producing a lawful outcome,” the Office said.
Names emerging
The Office also warned that it would not disclose sensitive operational information that could compromise ongoing investigations, the integrity of evidence or any potential future prosecution.
EOCO assured the public that it remains committed to “following the evidence without fear or favour” and to identifying and investigating economic and organised crime within its mandate.
The Office said further information on the Asante Berko bribery case would be provided at the appropriate time.
For now, EOCO’s position is that Mr Berko’s conviction in the United States should not be interpreted as proof of criminal liability against any individual in Ghana. Any such liability, it stressed, must be established independently based on evidence and under Ghanaian law.