An investigator with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has told the Accra High Court that the National Signals Bureau (NSB) never took delivery of a cyber defence system for which GH¢49.1 million was paid.
Frank Marshall Cromwell, an EOCO staff officer leading investigations into the case, made the disclosure while being led in evidence by the Deputy Attorney General.
He told the court that on January 30, 2020, former Director-General of the NSB, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, signed an international agreement with Israeli firm ISC Holdings Limited for the procurement of a cyber defence system on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
According to the investigator, GH¢49.1 million was subsequently transferred from an NSB account to an account operated under BNC Communications Limited–Operations. Investigators later established that the account belonged to a private company allegedly owned and controlled by Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife.
Mr Cromwell testified that only GH¢9.54 million, equivalent to approximately US$1.75 million, was transferred to ISC Holdings, after which no further payments were made to the company. He said the remaining funds were allegedly withdrawn and spent on personal purposes.
He further told the court that bank records showed substantial withdrawals from the account until it was depleted, after which the account was closed and any remaining balance transferred to another company allegedly linked to the first accused.
The investigator also testified that ISC Holdings never supplied the cyber defence system to the NSB and that no such system exists in the Bureau’s inventory.
Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife Angela Boateng, and Advantage Solutions Limited are standing trial over allegations that they misappropriated nearly GH¢49 million earmarked for the acquisition of government cybersecurity software. Prosecutors allege the funds were channelled through a network of companies before being used to acquire properties in Accra, Kumasi and London.
Following proceedings, lead counsel for Mr Adu-Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, said he was particularly interested in the testimony of the prosecution’s investigator, noting that the witness’s evidence would reveal whether the case was founded on painstaking investigations or merely on theories advanced by the prosecution.
The former Abuakwa South MP expressed confidence that the cross-examination phase would test the strength of the prosecution’s case, insisting that no individual should be convicted or imprisoned on the basis of speculation. He maintained that criminal convictions must be anchored on clear and credible evidence and said the defence looked forward to scrutinising the factual basis of the allegations during cross-examination.
Proceedings were subsequently adjourned for the continuation of the trial.
