Judge Bourne also concluded that preventing the case from being heard in the U.S., where it is ready for trial, would cause a delay that would go against the interests of justice.
Berko faces six counts of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and failure to file reports of foreign bank accounts. He was arrested at Heathrow Airport in November 2022.
Berko appealed to the High Court after a judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court dismissed challenges to his extradition in June 2023. However, Judge Bourne concluded that Berko would not be extradited on charges of failing to report foreign accounts, as there was no equivalent offense in U.K. law.
In November 2022, Berko paid $329,000 to settle allegations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that he helped funnel approximately $2.5 million in bribes to Ghanaian government officials to secure a contract for a power plant. The settlement did not involve an admission of wrongdoing, and the U.S. Department of Justice pursued Berko separately.
