Ghana Poised to Trigger Own Accountability Process in AKSA Energy Scandal

By Culture Gossip! • August 10, 2026 • 3 min read

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in Ghana has revealed that the country's law enforcement agencies collaborated with US authorities in investigations that led to the conviction of an individual over a bribery scheme linked to a power plant deal involving Ghana. The collaboration, which was facilitated through Ghana's mutual legal assistance framework, has raised questions about what Ghanaian institutions intend to do with the information they have gathered.

Ghana's Capacity for Complex Corruption Investigations

Democracy and Development Fellow at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), John Osae-Kwapong, believes that the collaboration demonstrates that Ghanaian law enforcement agencies have the capacity to investigate complex corruption cases and gather evidence capable of supporting criminal accountability. According to Mr Osae-Kwapong, the fact that Ghanaian institutions, including the OSP and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), were able to provide investigative and evidentiary material to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is a significant development.

Raising Questions About Ghana's Accountability Processes

However, Mr Osae-Kwapong also believes that the collaboration raises a further question about what Ghanaian institutions intend to do with the information they have gathered. He notes that the OSP's statement suggests that Ghana may already have preliminary information that could be used to initiate its own accountability processes. "If you look at the OSP statement, then it also says to me that these critical institutions are in possession of at least some information that can be the basis of triggering our own accountability processes within, you know, in Ghana," he explained.

The Importance of Domestic Investigations

Mr Osae-Kwapong argues that Ghana should not simply rely on the outcome of the US proceedings but should use the information obtained through the collaboration to examine whether any Ghanaian individuals or institutions may have been involved in wrongdoing. He believes that the collaboration with US authorities should be seen as a starting point for domestic investigations rather than an end in itself. "At least that's my take on it, that if EOCO and other agencies, they help in terms of collaborating with the U.S. in pursuing this case against the said gentleman who has been convicted in the U.S., then it tells me that we do have some preliminary information that we can use as the first step towards also triggering our own accountability processes in Ghana," he said.

What Happens Next

The OSP's revelation has sparked renewed interest in the AKSA Energy scandal, which has been shrouded in controversy for several years. The scandal involves allegations of bribery and corruption in the awarding of a power plant contract to a Turkish company, AKSA Energy. The US conviction of former Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director, Asante Kwaku Berko, has brought attention to the scandal and raised questions about the role of Ghanaian institutions in the alleged corruption. As the OSP continues to investigate the scandal, it remains to be seen whether Ghanaian authorities will take the necessary steps to hold individuals and institutions accountable for their alleged wrongdoing.

Source: Joy Online