Former National Signals Bureau Head Faces Corruption Charges
Kwabena Adu-Boahene, once the Director-General of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau, is entangled in a high-profile legal battle over the alleged misappropriation of GH¢49 million, equivalent to roughly $7 million. The Attorney General’s Office has formally pressed 11 charges against him, accusing him of diverting funds intended for a cybersecurity defense system into personal accounts. The case has drawn significant attention due to the scale of the alleged fraud and the sensitive nature of national security funds.
In a significant development, the prosecution has submitted witness statements from three individuals: Frank Marshall Crowell, the case investigator; Edith Ruby Adumuah, the NSB’s Director of Finance; and Frank Anane Dekpey, described as an errand boy for the accused. These statements are pivotal, providing critical evidence to support the allegations against Adu-Boahene and his co-accused, including his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, their associate Mildred Boateng, and their company, Advantage Solutions Limited.
The charges stem from a 2020 contract Adu-Boahene signed with an Israeli firm, RLC Holdings Limited, for a $7 million cyber defense system. Prosecutors allege that shortly after, he transferred GH¢27.1 million from the NSB’s account at Fidelity Bank to a private account at UMB, claiming it was for the software purchase. Investigations revealed that a significant portion of these funds was funneled to accounts linked to Adu-Boahene and his wife, raising suspicions of embezzlement.
The case, filed at the High Court in Accra, includes charges such as stealing, conspiracy to steal, defrauding by false pretenses, and causing financial loss to the state. Authorities are also probing additional allegations, including a scheme involving monthly payments of GH¢1.3 million from Ghana Water Limited to accounts allegedly controlled by Adu-Boahene, disguised as payments for internet services.
As the trial progresses, the court has set a deadline of June 2, 2025, for the prosecution to file all disclosures, with a case management conference scheduled for June 11. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for accountability in Ghana’s national security operations.