Former NSB boss trial: Judge cautions against premature plea bargaining

The trial judge in the case against Kwabena Adu Boahene has issued a ruling. He ordered the accused to avoid plea bargaining with the state.

Justice John Eugene Nyante stated that plea bargaining can only start after disclosures are filed by the prosecution.

During a hearing on May 26, he also instructed the prosecution to file all disclosures by June 2. They had missed a previous deadline of May 20.

Samuel Atta Akyea, the lawyer for the accused, noted that the judge warned against premature plea bargaining. He dismissed rumors that his clients were considering this option.

Background

Attorney-General Dominic Ayine has charged Mr. Adu Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, with corruption involving GH₵49 million.

They face charges alongside Mildred Donkor and Advantage Solutions Limited. The charges include stealing, money laundering, and defrauding by false pretenses.

Mr. Adu-Boahene oversaw national security contracts and signed a deal with ISC Holdings Limited for cyber defense software worth $7 million.

He is alleged to have transferred about GH₵49 million from NSB funds into personal accounts. These transactions were falsely justified as payments for cyber defense systems.

Investigations revealed that no cybersecurity system was received by either the Bureau of National Communication or its successor agency.

Angela Adjei Boateng is one of three directors of Advantage Solutions Limited, which is linked to BNC Communications Bureau Limited.

Mildred Donkor previously worked as a bank relationship officer for Adu-Boahene and his wife.

BNC was established while Adu-Boahene was still NSB director and was used for transactions related to ISC Holdings Limited's security system purchase.

An initial payment of GH₵9.5 million (about $1.75 million) went to ISC Holdings, but no further payments followed.

Instead, funds were diverted for personal use, including investments and transfers to unknown parties.

Court documents allege that Adu-Boahene and others ran an elaborate criminal enterprise using Advantage Solutions Limited as a holding company for stolen funds.

These funds were then invested in various business activities like treasury bills, real estate, fertilizer manufacturing, and luxury car rentals.

Mr. Adu Boahene was arrested on March 20 at Kotoka International Airport upon returning from abroad but was later granted bail.