TOR MD was forced to resign; his action gave govt bad press – IES Boss

Mr Asante Berko, the immediate past Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) was forced to resign from his post by some government officials, Mr Paa Kwasi Anamua-Sakyi, Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES), has claimed.

Mr Asante Berko on Wednesday April 15 submitted his resignation letter to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He has been accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States of America of having arranged a US$2.5 million bribe for some Ghanaian government officials and MPs in connection with helping a Turkish firm secure a power purchase agreement deal in Ghana.

The former Goldman Sachs banker, according to the US SEC, allegedly made the payments in 2015 and 2016.

But, Mr. Berko, in a statement, said that the claims against him were false.

The IES boss, Mr Anamua-Sakyi said his resignation was hinged on the fact that the allegation of bribery against him was giving the government bad press hence his resignation.

He further indicated that the resignation comes at a time Mr Asante Berko has already issued a statement in attempt to exonerate himself therefore, it beats his imagination why he will in a matter of hours, resign from his post.

“I think the writings are clear on the wall. Yesterday he issued a statement that was widely circulated trying to claim innocence and so it beats everybody’s imagination why he will proceed today to resign,” Mr Anamua Sakyi told TV3’s Alfred Ocansey in an interview Wednesday April 15.

He added : “We got the indication clearly that before the close of business yesterday he was going to resign because the news is giving the government bad press and so we were quite certain that this is the way it is going to happen.”