Asante Kwaku Berko is a former Goldman Sachs executive
The phrase “holy rain” was used as a code for bribe payments in a scheme allegedly involving Ghanaian government officials and Asante Kwaku Berko, a former Goldman Sachs executive.
According to evidence presented at a US federal court, Berko, a dual citizen of the United States and Ghana, and his co-conspirators used the phrase while discussing money to be paid to individuals involved in the approval of a power plant project in Ghana.
Details of the alleged crime shared by the US Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York, on August 6, 2026, revealed that in one email exchange in August 2015, a bribe recipient was described as waiting for the “holy rain” and would “appreciate it sooner rather than later.”
“Also in August 2015, the co-conspirators discussed how a bribe recipient was waiting for the “holy rain” (i.e., the bribe payment) and “would appreciate it sooner rather than later”, portions of the statement read.
The US Department of Justice said the “holy rain” was a reference to a bribe payment as Berko and his associates worked to secure the power plant deal for Turkish energy company Aksa Enerji Uretim A.S.
The scheme is said to have involved more than $1 million in bribes to several Ghanaian officials, with payments discussed at different stages of the project.
US court finds ex-TOR MD Berko guilty of paying millions in bribes in power plant deal
In April 2015, Berko and his co-conspirators discussed paying $1 million to Ghana’s then Minister of Power and another $250,000 to the minister’s senior adviser.
“In April 2015, Berko and the conspirators discussed paying $1 million to the Ghanaian Minister of Power, who was responsible for securing key approvals enabling the project to progress and $250,000 to his senior adviser,” it stated.
They also paid bribes to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to inspect equipment for the proposed power plant.
“Bribes were also paid to five Ghanaian officials during an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey to view equipment for the power plant,” the statement added.
The US added that after Ghana’s Parliament approved the agreement in July 2015, the conspirators continued discussions on how to make and conceal the payments.
One such payment involved $250,000 distributed to various individuals, including $46,000 paid to members of Parliament who had ratified the agreement. The evidence showed that Berko personally made the $46,000 payment.
The prosecutors said the conspirators did not openly describe the payments as bribes in their communications. Instead, they used coded language and other methods to conceal the scheme.
Berko also used his personal email account instead of his Goldman Sachs business account to discuss the deal and the payments, and instructed his co-conspirators to do the same.
The money was further concealed through shell companies, sham invoices, nominee account holders, and cash withdrawals.
Berko was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn on charges of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, violating the Act, and money laundering conspiracy.
Berko was ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing and faces up to 30 years in prison.
MAG/EB
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