The fourth prosecution witness in the trial of former Director-General of the Bureau of National Communications (BNC), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, has told the Accra High Court that investigations have established that GH¢49.1 million was transferred from a BNC account into the account of a private company allegedly owned by the accused and his wife.
The witness, Frank Marshall Cromwell, a Staff Officer at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), said the transfers were effected through three cheques signed by Mr Adu-Boahene in 2020, while serving as Director of the BNC.
He told the court that investigations were initiated after EOCO received information in March 2025 alleging the misappropriation of public funds at the then-BNC.
Mr Cromwell, who led the investigations, said the funds were transferred from a Fidelity Bank account belonging to the BNC into an account held by BNC Communications Bureau Limited at Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).
The witness gave evidence during examination-in-chief led by Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, in court yesterday (June 22).
Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, and their company, Advantage Solutions Limited, are standing trial over alleged offences relating to the management and use of public funds.
Transfers
The witness said records obtained from Fidelity Bank showed that three cheques with face values of GH¢27.1 million, GH¢1 million and GH¢21 million were drawn on the BNC account and subsequently deposited into the account of BNC Communications Bureau Limited.
He said the first cheque, dated January 6, 2020, was signed by Mr Adu-Boahene in his capacity as Director of the BNC and deposited into the private company’s account at UMB on February 6, 2020.
He said that although the cheque named “BNC Operations” as the payee, the deposit slip reflected “BNC Communications Bureau Limited – Operations”.
The witness told the court that, in his professional opinion, the similarity between the names could mislead parties and facilitate fraudulent transactions.
He added that the same pattern was observed in respect of the two other cheques dated March 18 and March 30, 2020.
Ownership
Mr Cromwell said investigations established that the Fidelity Bank account belonged to the National Security Council Secretariat and was operated under the name “Director BNC”.
He said account opening documents showed that Mr Adu-Boahene, the National Security Coordinator, and another official were signatories to the account.
The witness further said the investigations revealed that the UMB account of BNC Communications Bureau Limited was opened on February 5, 2020, the same day the first cheque was signed.
He said documents obtained from the Registrar of Companies showed that BNC Communications Bureau Limited was incorporated in October 2018 with Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife as directors.
He further testified that Ms Adjei-Boateng was listed as the beneficial owner of the company, with Advantage Solutions Limited serving as its sole shareholder. He added that records also identified Ms Adjei-Boateng as the beneficial owner of Advantage Solutions Limited.
Contradictory statements
The EOCO investigator told the court that when both accused persons were questioned about the companies and bank accounts during investigations, Ms Adjei-Boateng denied knowledge of BNC Communications Bureau Limited despite being listed as its beneficial owner and signatory to its bank account.
Mr Cromwell added that Mr Adu-Boahene also initially denied knowledge of the company but later admitted to being aware of it after further engagements with investigators.
The witness further said the former Head of Finance at the BNC, Edith Ruth, informed investigators that the UMB account was not part of the bureau’s official accounts and admitted to depositing two of the cheques into the account, but said she acted on the instructions of Mr Adu-Boahene and did not know the purpose of the transactions.
