Proceedings in the ongoing GH¢49 million National Signals Bureau trial have intensified, as the third prosecution witness informed an Accra High Court that former Director General Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his spouse pre endorsed cheque books that were subsequently utilised to extract funds from accounts associated with the accused individuals.
The witness, Mildred Donkor, a former director of Advantage Solutions Limited, made the revelation during her principal testimony before Francis Achibonga at Criminal Court Three, with the Office of the Attorney General Ghana guiding her evidence. During the session, twelve cheque booklets were presented to her for identification.
She confirmed that the accounts in question were held in the names of Advantage Solutions Limited and other affiliated entities, all maintained with Universal Merchant Bank. She further identified additional cheque books connected to companies such as BNC Communications Bureau Ltd and Vertex Solutions Ltd.
When questioned on whether the cheque books formed part of previously signed instruments, the witness repeatedly affirmed in the positive and identified Kwabena Adu-Boahene together with Angela Adjei Boateng as the authorised signatories.
Detailing her role in the transactions, Mildred Donkor told the court that her participation commenced after the cheques had already been endorsed. Acting on oral directives from Kwabena Adu-Boahene and occasionally his wife, she indicated that she completed the cheque leaflets with specified sums and proceeded to effect withdrawals either personally or through intermediaries acting under her instruction.
She further explained that the disbursed funds were channelled through multiple routes, with portions delivered directly to the accused persons while others passed through her before onward transfer. Additional sums, she stated, were allocated to third parties.
Among the beneficiaries she mentioned was Margaret Aba Donkor, identified as the mother of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, who allegedly received funds intended for the procurement of building materials for a construction undertaking at Asokore in Kumasi. She added that further payments were made to suppliers of materials, including iron rods and cement.
To maintain oversight of the transactions, the witness disclosed that she kept independent records in a notebook and in a spreadsheet created using Microsoft Excel, which she intended to submit as evidence for reconciliation purposes.
However, the defence team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, objected to the immediate admission of the materials, contending that the documents, including a digital storage device, had only just been served on them and required adequate time for scrutiny.
The prosecution accepted a postponement of that aspect of the proceedings in the interest of ensuring procedural fairness before the Accra High Court.
Meanwhile, Kwabena Adu-Boahene has entered a plea of not guilty to charges encompassing defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, abuse of public office for personal benefit, and unlawful acquisition of public property.
His spouse, Angela Adjei Boateng, is similarly facing counts relating to conspiracy to exploit public office for private gain, conspiracy to launder proceeds, and money laundering.
