Kwabena Adu-Boahene
The judge conducting the trial of former Director-General of National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene and three others accused of allegedly stealing GH¢49.1 million from the state, has ordered that any discussions regarding plea-bargaining should be held only after the Office of the Attorney General has filed the full complement of its disclosures and served same on the accused persons.
It is not clear whether the accused persons have made any indication of not going through the full trial and have chosen to plead guilty and refund the alleged stolen money as well as restitution.
Mr. Adu-Boahene, his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng and Mildred Donkor have all denied any wrongdoing in the ongoing trial, which has attracted both national and international attention.
The court, presided over by Justice Eugene Nyante Nyadu, yesterday extended the deadline given to the Attorney General to file the disclosures and witness statements of witnesses it intends to rely on.
The judge had given the prosecution up to May 20, 2025, to file witness statements of its witnesses and serve same on the accused persons.
He also emphasised the need for the trial to be expedited so that the rights of the accused persons are not compromised.
However, Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai apologised to the court yesterday for their inability to file the documents as ordered by the court.
“We couldn’t comply with the deadline because one of our key investigators was indisposed to sign the relevant documentation,” he told the court.
He said the prosecution’s failure to comply with the orders was not deliberate, and prayed the court to grant them a short adjournment.
He was hopeful that the investigator would be available by Friday, May 30, 2025.
Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for the accused persons, did not oppose the prosecution’s request for an adjournment, indicating that the initiation of all criminal matters is at the disposal of the Attorney General.
“We won’t stand in the way of the Deputy Attorney General,” he added.
The court adjourned the case to June 2, 2025.
The Office of the Attorney General has charged Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng for allegedly stealing a total of GH¢49.1 million from the state.
The two, as well as Mildred Donkor and Advantage Solutions Limited, are facing a total of 11 counts of conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, using public office for profit, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
The accusations against the accused persons stem from Mr. Adu-Boahene allegedly signing a purported contract with ISC Holding Limited, an Israeli company, for the purchase of a cybersecurity system for the country in January 2020.
Mr. Adu-Boahene has been charged with stealing, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit and money laundering.
His wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng has been charged with conspiracy to steal, collaboration to commit the crime of using public office for profit, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
Mildred Donkor and Advantage Solutions Limited have been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak