AKSA Bribery Scandal: Mahama Will Not Shield Anyone, Deputy AG Says

The controversy surrounding the AKSA bribery case has returned to the centre of Ghana's political and public debate, following renewed calls for the allegations involving Ghanaian officials to be fully investigated.

Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai has now made the government's position clear: President John Dramani Mahama will not protect anyone found to have participated in wrongdoing connected to the case.

According to Srem-Sai, if investigations establish that an individual committed an offence, that person should face the law regardless of their political connections or position.

The comments come after the conviction in the United States of former Goldman Sachs banker and former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director Asante Kwaku Berko in a bribery case connected to a power project in Ghana.

What exactly is the AKSA case about?

The case revolves around the development of a power plant involving Aksa Energy, a Turkish energy company.

US prosecutors accused Berko of participating in a scheme involving more than US$1 million in alleged bribes to Ghanaian officials between 2014 and 2015.

Berko was convicted in the United States on August 6, 2026.

The conviction has now put the spotlight back on Ghana, with renewed questions about who may have been involved in the alleged scheme and whether anyone in Ghana should face prosecution.

But there is an important distinction to make.

Being accused, mentioned or linked to an investigation does not mean a person is guilty.

Anyone facing allegations is entitled to due process, and investigators must establish the facts and evidence before criminal responsibility can be determined.

Mahama says nobody will be protected

The government's latest position is significant because the AKSA controversy involves allegations dating back several years and touches on individuals associated with Ghana's political and business establishment.

Deputy Attorney General Srem-Sai says President Mahama will not shield anyone if evidence establishes that they broke the law.

The message is straightforward: political connections should not provide protection from prosecution.

That position will now be tested by what happens next.

The public will be watching closely to see whether Ghanaian investigators are able to establish who was involved, what happened and whether any offences were committed under Ghanaian law.

Why the Ghana investigation matters

Berko's conviction in the United States does not automatically mean that every person allegedly connected to the Ghanaian side of the case is guilty.

The Ghanaian investigation still has to establish its own facts.

Investigators will have to examine available evidence, identify individuals who may have participated in wrongdoing and determine whether there is enough evidence to justify prosecution.

That is why the work of Ghana's investigative institutions will be particularly important in the coming months.

Why EOCO is leading the investigation

Another issue attracting attention is the decision for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to lead the Ghanaian investigation.

The arrangement has generated questions because the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has previously been associated with investigations into aspects of the AKSA matter.

Dr Srem-Sai has sought to play down suggestions of rivalry between the two institutions.

He has argued that the focus should not be on which agency gets credit for the investigation, but on ensuring that the allegations are properly investigated and that anyone found culpable is held accountable.

That explanation is unlikely to end the debate, but it does highlight an important issue: Ghana needs its anti-corruption institutions to work effectively together when cases involve complex financial transactions and alleged corruption.

Former officials deny wrongdoing

The renewed attention has already prompted responses from some former government officials whose names have surfaced in connection with the case.

Former Power Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor has denied receiving money from Berko and rejected allegations linking him personally to the alleged bribery scheme.

Donkor has said he never received money from Berko and denied having met him.

Former Energy Minister K.T. Hammond has also responded publicly to allegations surrounding payments allegedly connected to Members of Parliament involved in consideration of the AKSA agreement.

These denials are important because they demonstrate why the Ghanaian investigation must distinguish between an allegation and established evidence.

The final determination of criminal responsibility belongs to the appropriate investigative and judicial processes.

Martin Amidu raises questions

Former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has also re-entered the discussion, raising questions about what happened to earlier investigations into the AKSA matter.

Amidu has previously said that the Office of the Special Prosecutor investigated aspects of the allegations while he was in office.

His latest intervention has therefore raised questions about whether enough was done to pursue the matter after the allegations first emerged.

For many Ghanaians, this is one of the most important questions surrounding the case.

If allegations of corruption involving a major public-sector agreement were investigated years ago, what happened to those investigations?

And if they were discontinued, why?

Those questions may now become more prominent as the Ghanaian investigation progresses.

Calls grow for a deeper investigation

The renewed controversy has also triggered calls for Parliament to take a closer look at the matter.

The People's Alliance for Governance and Accountability has called for a parliamentary investigation into the allegations surrounding the AKSA power agreement.

Such calls reflect a broader public concern about transparency in major government contracts and energy-sector transactions.

Ghana has spent enormous amounts of public money on energy infrastructure over the years.

That makes questions surrounding the negotiation, approval and implementation of major power projects particularly sensitive.

The bigger question is accountability

At its heart, the AKSA controversy is about more than one individual.

It raises questions about how Ghana handles major public contracts, how decisions involving large amounts of money are made and whether institutions are capable of holding powerful people accountable when allegations of corruption arise.

If investigators establish that public officials accepted bribes, those responsible should face the appropriate legal consequences.

But the reverse is equally important.

People should not be convicted in the court of public opinion simply because their names appear in allegations or political discussions.

A credible investigation must be based on evidence.

What happens next?

The next stage will be closely watched.

EOCO will have to examine the available evidence and determine whether there is sufficient basis to take further action against individuals in Ghana.

The government will also face pressure to demonstrate that the investigation is independent and transparent.

For President Mahama, the case presents both a political and institutional test.

His administration has made the fight against corruption a significant part of its governance message.

The AKSA investigation provides an opportunity to demonstrate whether that commitment applies even when allegations involve people connected to the political establishment.

Why this matters to ordinary Ghanaians

For many people, corruption cases can sometimes feel distant from everyday life.

But allegations involving major energy projects can have consequences far beyond the individuals involved.

When public contracts are affected by corruption, the potential cost can ultimately be borne by taxpayers through higher project costs, financial losses or poor public services.

That is why transparency in major government contracts matters.

Ghanaians deserve to know how public money is spent and whether people entrusted with public responsibilities act in the public interest.

Bottom line

The AKSA bribery scandal has once again placed Ghana's anti-corruption efforts under the spotlight.

Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai says President John Dramani Mahama will not shield anyone found to have broken the law.

But the important work now lies with investigators.

They must establish what happened, identify those who may have been involved and determine whether the available evidence supports prosecution.

The US conviction of Asante Berko has reopened difficult questions in Ghana, but it should not be treated as automatic proof of guilt against everyone mentioned in connection with the case.

The Ghanaian investigation must ultimately be judged by one standard: whether it establishes the truth through evidence and applies the law fairly.

For Global Pulse GH, we will continue following the AKSA case as investigators, government officials and other key players provide further information.