Ex-Ghana security boss charged with theft, money laundering

A former director of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, has been formally charged with “theft” and “money laundering” over allegations of diverting millions from a cyber security contract, as reported by AFP on Wednesday.

According to court documents signed by Attorney General Dominic Ayine, Adu-Boahene on April 30, is accused of misappropriating funds from a $7m contract intended to bolster Ghana’s cyber security infrastructure.

“Investigations confirm that the total amount of money, 49.1m Ghanaian cedis was the exact Ghana cedi equivalent of $7m”, which according to Adu-Boahene “was the purchase price of the cyber security defence system”, the document said.

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Authorities stated that no cyber security system, as described in the original contract dated January 30, 2020, was ever delivered to the Bureau of National Communications or its successor agency.

According to the prosecutor, the stolen money was then “used to purchase and construct various landed properties located in (capital) Accra, Kumasi and London, and to buy a fleet of luxury cars.”

Adu-Boahene, who was arrested on March 24, is being prosecuted alongside his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, who was also implicated in the case.

The prosecution is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign led by President John Mahama, who assumed office in January. The government has pledged to recover public funds allegedly misused under the previous administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Other investigations, including a probe into former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, are ongoing as part of efforts to promote accountability and restore public confidence in state institutions.