UMB fund approvals came from headquarters, not branches- witness tells court in Adu-Boahene trial

The third prosecution witness in the Adu-Boahene trial has told the High Court that the movement of funds in accounts linked to former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene was not something branches could approve on their own.

Mildred Donkor, the third prosecution witness, said any such approval had to come from the bank’s headquarters.

Her evidence came during further cross-examination by Samuel Atta-Akyea, counsel for Mr Adu-Boahene and the other accused persons.

The defence had suggested that UMB Bank branches could independently move funds among themselves to satisfy withdrawal requests.

Madam Donkor disagreed.

She explained that Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife enjoyed what she described as a special banking relationship with UMB Bank.

Because of that relationship, she said, certain transaction arrangements were made to help them carry out urgent banking requests.

The court heard that some funds were moved from BNC Communications Bureau Limited accounts into Advantage Solutions Limited accounts.

Madam Donkor said this happened because cheque books for the BNC account were not immediately available when the account was opened.

The transfers through Advantage Solutions Limited, she explained, were therefore used to facilitate transactions at the time.

The witness rejected the suggestion that the use of different company accounts was designed to create a complicated financial web for the benefit of the accused persons.

She maintained that the transactions were done on the instructions of Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife.

She also said the requests were often presented as urgent.

Mr Atta-Akyea then put several figures to the witness.

He suggested that she personally withdrew GH¢10.99 million from the BNC Operations Account through pre-signed cheques and withdrawal requests.

Madam Donkor rejected that claim.

Counsel further suggested that bank statements showed withdrawals of GH¢98.38 million from Advantage Solutions Limited and its subsidiary accounts.

The witness said she could not confirm that amount.

She told the court that she had kept records for reconciliation purposes and had indemnity arrangements covering transactions she handled for Advantage Solutions Limited and related companies.

Madam Donkor insisted that she was performing her duties as a banker and was not aware that any of the monies involved were state funds.

During the hearing, the defence tendered an email request dated February 11, 2020, relating to the BNC Operations account.

The prosecution did not object, and the court admitted the document into evidence.

The cross-examination also touched on Madam Donkor’s earlier testimony about an alleged GH¢2.5 million transfer to one Rashida.

The defence suggested that this claim was not part of her original statement to investigators at the Economic and Organised Crime Office.

Madam Donkor said her evidence in court reflected answers she had previously given investigators through her lawyer.

She denied that the account involving Rashad Sanny had been introduced to gain favourable treatment from investigators.

According to her, it formed part of her version of events from the beginning.

The case was adjourned to June 15, 2026.