Accra High Court Rejects Adu Boahene’s Bid to Pause Trial, Advances Case with Key Witness
The Accra High Court on Friday dismissed a request by Kwabena Adu Boahene’s legal team to suspend his criminal trial pending an appeal. Adu Boahene, former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), sought to halt proceedings while challenging a prior court decision denying access to certain documents his defense deemed essential for a fair trial.
The defense, led by Samuel Atta-Akyea, argued that without the requested materials, Adu Boahene’s right to a fair trial was compromised. However, the court, unconvinced, ruled that the trial should proceed alongside the appeal. Prosecutors, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, maintained that the defense failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances for a stay, adding that the disputed documents were either irrelevant or not in the prosecution’s possession.
In a related development, the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, dropped charges against co-accused Mildred Donkor on October 15 under Section 59 of Act 30. Donkor, previously the third accused, will now testify for the prosecution, offering insights into transactions and her ties to Adu Boahene and others. This move is expected to bolster the state’s case.
Adu Boahene, alongside his wife Angela Adjei Boateng, Advantage Solutions Limited, and formerly Donkor, faces charges including stealing, money laundering involving GH¢49.1 million, causing financial loss to the state, and abuse of public office. The prosecution alleges that funds were siphoned from state accounts to private entities.
The trial continues as the appeal process unfolds, with Donkor’s testimony anticipated to play a pivotal role in upcoming hearings.
