By Barbara Kumah
A High Court in Accra has directed that former Director of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, his wife Angela Adjei-Boateng, and two others may only engage in plea bargain discussions with the Attorney-General after they have been served with full disclosures.
Justice John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, who gave no reasons for the directive, adjourned the case to June 11, for a case management conference. The adjournment followed a request from the prosecution, led by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem Sai, for one additional week to file the necessary documents.
Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife, and two others are facing charges related to the purchase of a cybersecurity defence system in 2020, which allegedly resulted in a financial loss of GH¢41 million to the state.
During the pre-trial hearing on Monday, May 26, Dr Srem Sai admitted the prosecution had failed to meet the court’s May 20, deadline to file witness statements and disclosures. He explained that the delay was due to the unavailability of a key investigator required to sign the documents, and assured the court the documents would be ready by Friday, May 30.
The Deputy Attorney-General also requested the court to clarify the bail terms of the third accused person, Mildred Donkor. He said the prosecution had failed to inform the court during an earlier hearing that Ms Donkor was on police enquiry bail, not court bail.
Justice Nyadu ruled: “For the avoidance of doubt, the court re-states that the third accused has been admitted to court bail on May 13, on the same terms as existing on the police inquiry bail.”
The court ordered the Attorney-General to file all disclosures no later than June 2.
Mr Adu-Boahene, 44, has been charged with ten counts, including stealing, conspiracy to steal, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss, and using public office for profit. He also faces charges of obtaining public property by false statements, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Angela Adjei-Boateng, 36, is charged with collaboration to commit crime, specifically using public office for profit.
Mildred Donkor, 43, a former bank relationship officer to the first and second accused, and Advantage Solutions Limited have been charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
The case is expected to resume on June 11.
