Lead counsel for former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, has challenged the Accra High Court’s 14-day deadline for the defence to file its submission of no case to answer.
Mr Atta Akyea argues that the period granted by the court is inadequate for the defence team to thoroughly examine the prosecution’s evidence and prepare a comprehensive response.
“It is too short a time to put together a credible submission of no case,” he said following the court’s directive.
The court has ordered the defence to file its submission by September 25, 2026, following the prosecution’s closure of its case in the trial.
The prosecution’s case against Mr Adu-Boahene and his co-accused centres on the alleged diversion of GH¢49.1 million meant for the procurement of a cybersecurity system.
Four prosecution witnesses testified during the trial, with the final witness, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) investigator Frank Marshall Cromwell, concluding his evidence after facing detailed cross-examination from the defence.
The prosecution alleges that three cheques amounting to GH¢49.1 million were issued in 2020 and paid into the Universal Merchant Bank account of BNC Communications Bureau Limited, a private company associated with Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng.
According to the prosecution, the money was meant to finance the acquisition of a cybersecurity system from Israeli company ISC Holdings Ltd.
Investigators further allege that Mr Adu-Boahene entered into an agreement with ISC Holdings Ltd on January 30, 2020, before the three cheques were issued and subsequently deposited into the private company’s account.
The defence, however, has disputed key aspects of the prosecution’s financial analysis and challenged the conclusions reached by investigators during cross-examination.
Counsel has also raised questions about the prosecution’s failure to call some officials who occupied key positions within the National Security structure during the period under investigation, including former National Security Minister Albert Kan-Dapaah and the then National Security Coordinator.
Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife and the other accused persons have denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
They are facing charges including stealing, conspiracy to steal, defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for profit and money laundering.
With the prosecution now having closed its case, the defence is expected to determine whether the evidence presented establishes a case requiring the accused persons to answer before proceeding with the next stage of the trial.
