NDC MP, Adams Mutawakilu, has rejected claims ex-TOR boss, Asante Berko paid bribes to lawmakers to get a power contract approved in 2015.

The Damango MP says the allegations by the US Securities and Exchange Commission come as a shock to him.

He told journalists in Parliament Friday that as Vice Chairman of the Energy Committee of the House when the said contract was approved, no money exchanged hands.

“Parliament never received anything in respect to performing our legitimate duties as to passing of the power purchasing agreement.

“It wasn't only this, we passed several. There was no situation where there were underhand dealings,” he said.

Mutawaliku says he has never had a personal encounter with Berko who was acting in 2015 as an executive of Goldman Sachs.

Berko reject SEC claims

Berko himself has denied the claims by the US institution, writing in a statement that his lawyers have been instructed to fight civil lawsuit by the SEC.

The US SEC claims in its lawsuit filed on Monday that, Asante Berko, a former executive at the Goldman’s London subsidiary, facilitated up to $4.5million to help a Turkish company to win a contract for a power plant.

But Mr. Berko says these claims are “false.”

“I state categorically that I have not paid any bribes to government officials, Members of Parliament nor any officials of Parliament.

“I have had no contact with Members of Parliament nor officials of Parliament, regarding the approval of this transaction,” he wrote in the statement.

He has, however, resigned from his passion as Tema Oil Refinery MD since the allegations were made.

Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka has also rejected the claims.

In an interview with JoyNews, the Asawase MP said, “not a dime came to anyone” for the approval of the said deal.