I did not personally benefit from purchase of cyber-security machine – Former NCA boss

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By Joyce Danso, GNA  

Accra, Jan. 23, GNA –
A former Director-General of the National Communication Authority says he never
benefitted personally from the purchase of the cyber security machine
meant to secure the country’s cyber space.

William Tetteh Tevie
said when the Police conducted investigations into his personal accounts, no
adverse report was found.

According to Tevie
he had never in his life stolen anything, anybody or money belonging to the
state and the charge of stealing preferred against him by the state really hurt
him.

Tevie said this when
he opened his defence at his trial with others for causing financial loss to
the state among other charges at an Accra High Court

He was giving his
evidence in chief in respect of the four million cyber security equipment
allegedly purchase to fight terrorism and for cyber security in the country in
the year 2016.

Led by Mr. Godwin
Edudzie Tamakloe, his defence counsel, Tevie said when the incident happened he
gave his bank account details to the Police but “they did not come out with
adverse findings against me,” he told the court presided over by Mr. Justice
Eric Kyei Baffour, a Court of Appeal judge sitting with additional
responsibility as a High Court Judge.

The former
Director-General of NCA denied that he and the other accused conspired to steal
from the state and also caused financial loss to the state through the purchase
of the Pergasus machine.

“We couldn’t have
caused financial loss if the said machine was purchased, tested and handed over
to the state.”

According to him, if
he had stolen from the state, the said Pergasus machine would not have been
purchased and same be in the custody of the state.

“I couldn’t have
stolen any money. If I did, the equipment would not have been here, same be
housed in a house of the National Security Council Secretariat.”

He intimated that he
also did not use his office for personal gains, adding that I never took state
funds by signing cheques for the payment for the machine

Tevie said that he was
not the only signatory to the NCA accounts and the purported cheques indicated
that he and one Dr Ani, Director of Finance signed for the payment of the cyber
security machine.

According to him,
although the NCA did not have space on cybersecurity issues, the authority’s
Engineering Department handled such matters.

The former Director
General of NCA debunked the assertion of the state that the 2016 budget of the
NCA did not capture the purchase of the cyber security equipment.

He recalled the
Director of Finance of the NCA, a prosecution witness, indicated to the court
that there were some variations in the said budget and the machine’s purchase
was captured.

Tevie said the
Directors of Engineering and Finance of the NCA were aware and involved in the
purchase of the machine and there were board minutes to that effect.

According to Tevie
prior to joining the NCA there was a letter from Mr. Yaw Donkor, the then Director
of the National Security, requesting for the support for the purchase of the
cyber security machine.

He recalled that he
was invited to the National Security Council Secretariat conference room where
demos of the said machine viewed by him, some security operatives and
representatives of the Israeli firm, NSO.

The former Director
General of NCA said the Authority realized that security had moved into the
country’s digital space and it was also important that the National Security
also start looking into that arena.

He explained that in
July 2015 that he joined the NCA, there were a lot of disruptions in relation
to terrorism in Nigeria, and Burkina Faso hence Ghana also needed to put things
in place to curtail terrorism.

Tevie said the
machine could protect Ghana’s cyberspace and detect the footprints of
terrorists.

Tevie is standing
trial with Eugene Baffoe Bonnie former Board Chairman, Nana Owusu Ensaw, NCA
board member, Alhaji Salifu Mimina, former Deputy National Security Coordinator
and George Derrick Oppong, a Director of Infralock Development Limited.

The accused have
been variously charged with stealing, using public office for personal gain,
willfully causing financial loss to the state in respect of the purchase of a cyber-security
equipment worth four million dollars.

They have all denied
the charges and are currently on bail.

The matter has been
adjourned to Jan 28.

GNA