What High Court Has Ordered Adu-Boahene and Wife to Do in GH¢49.1m Trial

An Accra High Court has directed former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, to open their defence on nine of the eleven charges filed against them.

The decision follows the court’s rejection of their respective submissions of no case to answer, through which they had sought to be acquitted without being required to defend themselves.

However, the court acquitted Adu-Boahene on two charges: defrauding by false pretences and obtaining public property by false statements.

Presiding judge Justice Francis Achibonga explained that the prosecution had failed to present evidence establishing that the former NSB director-general made any false representations in connection with the two offences.

The two charges dismissed were Count 5, defrauding by false pretences, and Count 9, obtaining public property by false statements.

Despite the partial acquittal, Justice Achibonga ruled that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to require the accused persons to respond to the remaining nine charges.

These include three counts of stealing involving GH¢27.1 million, GH¢1 million and GH¢21 million, as well as conspiracy to steal GH¢21 million.

The other charges against Adu-Boahene include wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit and abetment of crime.

He is also facing charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

In explaining the court’s decision, Justice Achibonga noted that the standard required at the no-case submission stage differs from the burden of proof at the conclusion of a criminal trial.

He said the court was only required to establish whether the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to support the essential elements of the alleged offences or whether the evidence was so inadequate that no reasonable jury could convict the accused persons.

The prosecution alleges that Adu-Boahene, while serving as Director of the Bureau of National Communications, arranged the transfer of approximately GH¢49.1 million in public funds from the bureau’s Fidelity Bank account through three separate transactions.

The transactions involved GH¢27.1 million, GH¢1 million and GH¢21 million, respectively.

According to the prosecution, the funds were transferred into an account held by an entity known as B.N.C. Communications Bureau at UMB, which the former director-general allegedly owned.

In its ruling, the court found that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish the key elements of the stealing allegations, including the state’s ownership of the funds and the alleged dishonest appropriation through the transfers.

Consequently, the judge rejected the no-case submission concerning all three stealing charges.

Adu-Boahene was also ordered to defend himself against the allegations of wilfully causing financial loss to the state and using public office for profit.

His wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, was equally directed to open her defence against the charges brought against her, including conspiracy to use public office for profit, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Justice Achibonga further reminded both accused persons that they had the constitutional right to determine how they wished to present their defence.

They may give sworn testimony from the witness box, make an unsworn statement from the dock or exercise their right to remain silent.

The court granted them three weeks to file witness statements if they intend to call witnesses in support of their defence.

The case has been adjourned to December 10, 2026, when proceedings are expected to continue with the defence phase.

Source: https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Here-are-the-9-charges-court-has-ordered-Adu-Boahene-wife-to-open-defence-for-2061130

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