NSB never received GH¢49.1m cyber defence system- EOCO investigator tells court

An investigator has told the Accra High Court that the National Signals Bureau did not receive the cyber defence system at the centre of the GH¢49.1 million case involving its former Director-General, Kwabena Adu-Boahene.

Frank Marshall Cromwell, an EOCO staff officer leading investigations into the matter, said the software was not found in the inventory of the Bureau.

He gave the evidence while being led by the Deputy Attorney-General.

According to him, Mr Adu-Boahene signed a contract on January 30, 2020, with Israeli company ISC Holdings Limited for the supply of a cyber defence system.

The contract was allegedly signed by Mr Adu-Boahene in his capacity as Director of the NSB and purportedly on behalf of the Government of Ghana.

Mr Cromwell said GH¢49.1 million was later moved from the NSB account into an account named BNC Communications Limited-Operations.

The transfer was allegedly meant to pay for the cyber defence system.

Investigations, however, revealed that the BNC Communications account belonged to a private company owned and controlled by Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife.

The investigator said only GH¢9,537,500, equivalent to US$1.75 million, was eventually transferred from the account to ISC Holdings.

He told the court that no further payment was made to the Israeli company after that transfer.

According to him, the rest of the money was allegedly withdrawn and spent for personal purposes.

Mr Cromwell said bank records showed that after the GH¢49.1 million entered the BNC Communications Bureau-Operations account, Mr Adu-Boahene transferred the GH¢9.5 million to ISC Holdings on February 6, 2020.

He alleged that Mr Adu-Boahene then made substantial cash withdrawals until the account was depleted.

The investigator further claimed that Mr Adu-Boahene later instructed the bank to close the account and transfer the remaining balance to another company linked to him.

He said despite the payment and withdrawals, ISC Holdings did not deliver the cyber defence system to the NSB.

“Our investigation established that ISC Holdings Limited did not deliver the cyber defence system to the NSB, and that NSB does not have the cyber defence system in its inventory,” he told the court.

Mr Adu-Boahene is standing trial with his wife, Angela Boateng, and Advantage Solutions Limited.

The prosecution alleges that the accused persons misappropriated GH¢49 million meant for the acquisition of cybersecurity software for the state.

The State’s case is that the funds were passed through a network of companies before ending up with Advantage Solutions Limited.

Prosecutors further allege that portions of the money were used to acquire properties in Accra, Kumasi and London.

The accused persons are facing trial before the High Court as the prosecution continues to lead evidence.