Emmanuel Kotin, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Security and Counterterrorism, has slammed both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in their commitment towards the fight against corruption.
His comments come on the back of the conviction of a former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Kwaku Asante Berko, by U.S. authorities over a power plant scandal involving a Turkish firm.
Commenting on the development on the BigIssue segment of the NewDay morning show on TV3 Monday, August 10, 2026, Kutin noted that political parties have created the impression that politically exposed persons are immune to accountability, and always cry foul when their members are called to render account of their stewardship.
He cited the recent protest organised by the NPP, citing similar concerns, saying Ghana would have initiated something at the time the matter came to light it the country were serious with corruption fight.
“You remember just recently people were demonstrating on the streets over arrests of politically exposed persons who are accused of corruption? So are we really intending to fight the corruption?” he quizzed.
According to Kutin, the actions of both parties, under whom convict Berko served, when the issue came to light, show they have not commitment towards the fight against corruption, and therefore lack the moral right to make any accusations on the matter.
“The NPP and NDC have no moral right to sit on any platform to pontificate on this matter. Because Berko was appointed TOR MD under NPP. When the issue happened in US he was forced to resign. What did the government of the day do at that point, if we are truly serious in confronting corruption,” he asked.
He believes the commencement of the investigations and trial by the US “was an indication that we could also start our own, if for all intent and purposes, we were committed in fighting corruption.”
“So NPP, NDC you have lost that moral ground to sit anywhere and pontificate who did right and who didn’t do right. You have all failed in this,” he maintained, adding that Berko committed the said crime under an NDC administration and was given a position when the NPP came to power, indicating how both parties overlooked the issue.
“Because if Berko orchestrated this scheme under the NDC and NPP appointed him as TOR MD and during the reign of the NPP this issue came and he was forced to resign, what did the NPP do about it? I think it is about time we take our fight against corruption very seriously.”
Kwaku Asante Berko, a dual US-Ghana citizen and also a former Executive Director at Goldman Sachs. Berko was extradited from the UK to the US in July 2024 to face charges of bribing Ghanaian officials to secure a power plant deal.
Between 2014 and 2017, Berko allegedly conspired with others to pay over $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian officials to ensure a Turkish energy company –Aksa –won a bid to build and operate a power plant in Ghana.
The indictment alleges that Berko facilitated bribe payments, including a trip to Turkey for Ghanaian officials where they received $5,000 each, and payments to individuals within the then Ministry of Power, now Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
Emails recovered during the investigation show Berko discussing bribe payments, including $20,000 to the “MoP Girls,” who were deemed crucial for acquiring information.
He faces charges of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), violating the FCPA, and conspiring to commit money laundering.
According to Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) which significantly contributed to this prosecution, Berko, if convicted, faces up to 30 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy and five years for each FCPA-related count.
