GH¢49.1m came from public account, Adu-Boahene trial witness testifies

A key witness in the trial of former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene has told the High Court that the 49.1 million Ghanaian cedis at the center of the alleged theft originated from a public account.

Frank Marshall Cromwell, a Staff Officer with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), testified that investigations revealed the funds were transferred from an account belonging to the Bureau. He stated under cross-examination that the account was opened on the authorization of the National Security Coordinator for operational purposes, confirming it as a state account.

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I disagree because the Head of Finance of the Bureau of National Communications listed accounts operated by the Bureau of National Communications, which included the Director BNC account at Fidelity Bank.

Adu-Boahene, his wife Angela Adjei-Boateng, and two others are accused of stealing the 49.1 million cedis. Prosecutors allege that Adu-Boahene and his wife incorporated a private company with a name similar to the Bureau of National Communications to funnel state funds through a "Director BNC" account, making it appear legitimate.

The defense counsel questioned the nature of the account, suggesting it was not a public one. However, Cromwell insisted that the Head of Finance for the Bureau had listed the account as one operated by the National Signals Bureau. The accused face 11 charges, including conspiracy to commit crime, stealing, using public office for profit, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.

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I am aware that the account known as the Director BNC account was created on the instructions of the National Security Coordinator for operational purposes of the Bureau of National Communications.