Adu Boahene's GH¢120m bail sum reduced to GH¢80m, court restricts couple's movements

The Accra Human Rights Court has reviewed the bail conditions for Kwabena Adu Boahene. He is the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB). His lawyers filed a suit to challenge the original terms.

The bail amount was reduced from GH¢120 million to GH¢80 million. He must provide two sureties, one of which must be justified.

His wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, retains her bail at GH¢80 million. She also needs two sureties that must be justified.

Both are required to report to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) three times a week. They cannot travel without permission from EOCO.

The couple was arrested last week for allegedly embezzling state funds. They argued in court that their bail conditions were excessive.

Samuel Atta Akyea Esq, their lead lawyer, claimed the bail amounts were unreasonable. He stated they seemed designed to bypass constitutional limits on detention.

In court on March 28, he made a strong case for lowering the bail conditions. The court eventually granted this request.

Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem Sai argued they are flight risks. He mentioned they might possess foreign passports in addition to their Ghanaian ones.

Justice Srem Sai also alleged that Angela attempted to destroy evidence. She reportedly tried to hide suspected currency bills in suitcases after learning of her husband's arrest.

**Background**

Last week, EOCO arrested Adu-Boahene at Kotoka International Airport upon his return from London. His wife was arrested when she visited EOCO for information about him.

He faces accusations of embezzling state funds related to a $7 million contract. This contract involved a cyber defense system aimed at enhancing national security.

Attorney-General Dr Ayine provided details during a press conference on March 24. He explained that Adu-Boahene's arrest relates to financial misconduct regarding this contract.

The project aimed to improve Ghana’s ability to combat cyber threats and data breaches. However, investigations suggest funds meant for it were misappropriated for personal use.

Dr Ayine noted that Adu-Boahene signed the contract on January 30, 2020, with RLC Holdings Limited, an Israeli firm. This agreement was crucial for strengthening Ghana’s digital security infrastructure.

Despite its importance, Adu-Boahene allegedly engaged in unauthorized financial transactions soon after signing the contract.

On February 6, 2020, he reportedly transferred GH¢27.1 million from NSB’s account into a private account linked to his firm BNC. This transaction was falsely documented as payment for software related to the cyber defense system.

He is accused of laundering these funds through real estate investments both locally and abroad.