U.S. prosecutors allege that Berko helped a Turkish energy company in carrying out the scheme, which involved paying off members of Parliament and senior government officials in Ghana through a shell company based there.
Berko was hired by Goldman Sachs U.K. in July 2014 and was enlisted to drum up deals in Ghana, which at the time was fast-tracking energy projects to overcome power shortages, according to the SEC. Authorities alleged that he used his contacts in Ghana to arrange meetings between top government officials and the Turkish energy company’s executives to discuss the project. Berko also brought in the shell company’s operators, who had access to key government agencies, the SEC said.
Berko is represented by Rachel Scott of Three Raymond Buildings, instructed by Chris Stevens of CJS Defence.
The U.S. government is represented by Nicholas Hearn of Furnival Chambers.
The case is Berko v. U.S., case number AC-2023-LON-002540.
