In a strongly worded legal rebuttal, former Minister of Power Dr. Kwabena Donkor has completely and emphatically denied any involvement in the bribery allegations surfacing from the United States legal proceedings involving Asante Berko, the former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery.
Represented by his legal counsel, K.T. Hammond, Esq. of Cavendish Chambers, the former Minister moved to clear his name following what his team described as allegations doing the rounds on various social media platforms.
The “Dumsor” Context and Official Negotiations
While the statement issued on Monday admits that Dr. Donkor was the relevant Minister during the height of Ghana’s power crisis, which was a period of extreme energy emergency, it maintains that all dealings were strictly professional.
The legal team confirmed that the Ministry of Power did indeed negotiate with ASKA Energy for power generation during that time.
As part of standard practice, a technical team was even dispatched to Istanbul, Turkey, to conduct pre-shipment inspections of the equipment intended for Ghana.
The “Plain Language” Denial
Dr. Donkor’s defense is anchored on a series of unambiguous denials regarding his personal contact with the parties involved. According to the statement, Dr. Donkor:
Has never met Asante Berko at any point in his life
Never discussed any personal benefit or value with Mr. Berko or any other person regarding this matter
Never authorized any individual to negotiate or discuss such matters on his behalf
Never received any money, in any denomination, or any personal benefit from Asante Berko
The Senior Ghana Official Defense
The response takes a sharp turn in addressing how Dr. Donkor’s name or title may have been used by others. His lawyers argue that if any individuals made criminal demands for money for the benefit of a “Senior Ghana Official,” they did so for their own personal benefit and without his knowledge.
The statement further clarifies that Dr. Donkor “does not accept” that claims made by third parties, who may have sought money from their principals under his title, metamorphose into evidence of criminality against him personally.
He expressed a lack of understanding as to how any evidence led in a US trial could link him to demanding or receiving “money, cedis or dollars”.
The Legal Warning
Dr. Donkor’s legal team concludes with a stern warning to the public and the media.
Cavendish Chambers stated they have been instructed to initiate immediate legal proceedings against any publication or statement interpreted as contrary to these facts or intended to impugn the reputation and integrity of Dr. Kwabena Donkor.
