Former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Ayikoi Otoo, says public officials found to have received bribes in connection with the AKSA Energy deal could still face prosecution, even if the alleged offences occurred more than a decade ago.

Speaking on Joy FM's Midday News, Mr Otoo said the key consideration would be whether there is sufficient evidence to establish that an offence was committed.

“I’m not aware that there is time limitation for crimes. So long as a crime is committed, while we are caught, it can be prosecuted,” he said.

His comments follow the conviction of former Tema Oil Refinery Managing Director, Asante Kwaku Berko, by a United States court over a bribery scheme linked to a power plant deal involving Ghana.

The conviction has renewed calls for Ghanaian authorities to investigate individuals who may have been implicated in the alleged scheme.

Mr Otoo also said the state could potentially recover assets or financial benefits linked to corruption if wrongdoing is established.

He explained that a court could order the confiscation of assets and seek to recover funds or benefits that the state may have lost as a result of the alleged corruption.

“I mean, a court can order that it is committed to confiscate the assets and make sure that we recover whatever we have lost, or recover some benefit, recover at least whatever we have lost,” he stated.

The former Attorney General said the courts could, where the applicable legal requirements are satisfied, make orders requiring an individual to refund money or for property connected to the proceeds of an offence to be confiscated.

“I don’t think there will be anything wrong with the judge making an order that you should refund, or that your property be confiscated under the Anti-Money Laundering Act and all those things,” he added.