Deputy AG hits back at 'deliberate campaign' to muddy Adu-Boahene prosecution

Ghana's Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has pushed back strongly against what he describes as a coordinated effort to obscure the facts in the high-profile prosecution of former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, characterising the case as fundamentally simple and rooted in clear evidence of public fund misappropriation.

Speaking on The Law with Samson Lardy Anyenini on JoyNews on Sunday, July 26, Dr Srem-Sai laid out the prosecution's core argument with stark simplicity: public money intended for national security defence equipment was transferred into Adu-Boahene's personal bank account, falsely justified as payment for cyber defence systems, but spent instead on private acquisitions including houses and high-end vehicles.

Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, were formally charged in 2025 with corruption offences involving approximately GHS49 million (around $7 million). They face 11 counts of charges including stealing, money laundering, defrauding by false pretences, and wilfully causing financial loss, alongside co-accused Mildred Donkor and Advantage Solutions Limited.

The charges and the evidence

According to the writ filed at the High Court on April 30, 2025, Adu-Boahene authorised a deal with Israeli firm ISC Holdings Limited for the purchase of cyber defence software valued at $7 million. However, prosecutors allege he transferred the full GHS49 million from NSB government accounts into his personal accounts under this pretext, then deployed the funds for private benefit.

Dr Srem-Sai explained the prosecution's position in unambiguous terms: "There is public money in a public account. You have moved the public money from the public account into a private account and told the bank which did the transaction that you are using the money to go and purchase defence equipment for the state." He underscored that forensic examination of the receiving account reveals expenditure on residential property and luxury vehicles for personal use.

The Deputy AG rejected suggestions that the case is legally or factually complex, insisting instead that the alleged conduct amounts to straightforward criminal offences against public financial law. "You cannot do this with public money," he stated. "It amounts to stealing or causing financial loss or any of the public financial offences."

Why it matters for Ghana

This case strikes at the heart of public trust in Ghana's institutions, particularly the security apparatus. The NSB oversees critical national security infrastructure and foreign defence contracts, making the alleged diversion of funds not merely a financial crime but a potential compromise of national interests. Adu-Boahene's position granted him authority over contracts with foreign companies, lending particular gravity to allegations that he weaponised that authority for personal enrichment.

The prosecution also reflects broader efforts by the current administration to tackle high-level corruption involving state funds. Whether the case succeeds will carry symbolic weight for public perception of the government's commitment to accountability, especially given the sums involved and the defendant's seniority within security services.

Defence strategy and public controversy

Dr Srem-Sai also addressed the trial's conduct outside the courtroom, noting that the defence has pursued media engagement and public commentary whilst the case remains ongoing. He disclosed that one initial defence argument centred on the claim that funds transferred to Adu-Boahene's account constituted repayment of loans he had allegedly advanced to public institutions—a position prosecutors evidently dispute.

The Deputy AG stated he has deliberately avoided granting interviews on the merits of the case after court proceedings, contrasting his approach with that of the defence. His remarks suggest tension between the two sides over the narrative being constructed in public discourse, with the prosecution concerned that misinformation or legal complexity is being weaponised to cloud public understanding.

As the trial continues, the case will test both Ghana's criminal justice system and public confidence in the prosecution of corruption involving the nation's security establishment.