High Court Rejects Adu-Boahene's Plea for Historical Records, Sets July 18 for Trial
Adu Boahen's Issues and High Court verdict
Emmanuelkumi 
In a significant development for Ghana's ongoing anti-corruption efforts, the High Court in Accra today dismissed a crucial application by Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), seeking access to national security financial records dating back to 1992. The ruling clears the way for the commencement of his highly anticipated trial on July 18, 2025, where he faces charges of allegedly misappropriating GH₵49.1 million.
Adu-Boahene, along with his wife Angela Adjei Boateng and two others, is facing 11 charges, including theft, money laundering, and willfully causing financial loss to the state. The charges arise from an alleged scheme in which Adu-Boahene, while leading the NSB, signed a contract to acquire cyber defense software for $7 million from an Israeli company, ISC Holdings Limited. Prosecutors assert that approximately GH₵49.1 million (around $7 million) was subsequently diverted from NSB funds into personal accounts, with no cybersecurity system ever delivered to the government.
The essence of Adu-Boahene's "dismissal request" was a motion submitted by his legal team, headed by Samuel Atta Akyea. They contended that acquiring full disclosure of "various National Security Coordinators' operational accounts" from 1992 to the present was crucial for a fair trial. The defense asserted that these historical financial records would offer essential context regarding the traditional management of national security funds, thus supporting their case.
However, the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem Sai, strongly opposed the motion. He argued that the extensive historical records were irrelevant to the specific charges against Adu-Boahene, which center on the alleged diversion of funds related to a particular cybersecurity contract.
Presiding Judge Justice Eugene Nyadu Nyantei, after reviewing the arguments, denied the defense's application. He noted that the accused had not provided sufficient justification for such a broad and far-reaching request. While a comprehensive, reasoned ruling is anticipated to be released on Monday, July 7, the court's immediate decision was unequivocal: the trial would continue without the requested historical disclosures.
The ruling has elicited strong reactions from the defense. Samuel Atta Akyea publicly condemned the decision, describing it as an "aberration of justice" and alleging that the court was suppressing evidence. He further asserted procedural irregularities, stating that the judge had initially indicated a detailed ruling would be delivered on July 21 but instead provided a summary on July 3, a move he attributed to the influence of the Attorney General. Atta Akyea indicated that the defense intends to appeal the decision.
Despite the defense's dissatisfaction, the court's dismissal of the application has removed a significant obstacle for the prosecution. With the pre-trial proceedings concluded and prosecution disclosures made, the High Court has now firmly established July 18, 2025, as the date for the trial to officially commence. This high-profile case, involving substantial public funds and implications for national security, is anticipated to be a crucial test of Ghana's commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability for those in positions of power. Adu-Boahene and his co-defendants have pleaded not guilty and remain on bail pending the start of their trial.
