NSB trial: Witness says Adu-Boahene and wife pre-signed cheques used for cash withdrawals
The third prosecution witness in the GH¢49 million National Signals Bureau trial has told an Accra High Court that former Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, signed cheque books in advance, which were later used to withdraw funds from accounts linked to them.
Mildred Donkor, a former director of Advantage Solutions Limited, made the disclosure during her examination in chief before Justice Francis Achibonga at Criminal Court 3. She was led in evidence by the Deputy Attorney-General, with twelve cheque books presented to her in court for identification.
Donkor identified the accounts as belonging to Advantage Solutions and other related companies, all held with Universal Merchant Bank. She confirmed the account details and pointed to additional cheque books associated with entities such as BNC Communications Bureau Ltd and Vertex Solutions Ltd.
When questioned on whether the cheque books formed part of the pre-signed instruments she had earlier referenced, Donkor repeatedly responded, “Yes, my lord,” and named Adu-Boahene and his wife as the signatories.
She told the court that her role began after the cheques had already been signed. Acting on verbal instructions from Adu-Boahene and sometimes his wife, she said she filled in the cheque leaflets with specific amounts before carrying out withdrawals.
According to her testimony, the withdrawals were conducted either by her personally or through individuals acting on her instructions.
Donkor further indicated that the withdrawn funds were distributed in different ways. Some amounts were handed directly to the accused persons, while others passed through her before being delivered. She also told the court that portions of the funds were paid to third parties.
Among those she mentioned was Margaret Aba Donkor, identified as the mother of Adu-Boahene, who allegedly received money for the purchase of building materials for a construction project at Asokore in Kumasi. She added that additional payments were made to suppliers of materials such as cement and iron rods.
To keep track of the transactions, Donkor said she maintained personal records in a notebook and an Excel spreadsheet, which she created independently for reconciliation purposes. She indicated her intention to tender the documents as evidence.
However, the defence team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, objected to their immediate admission, arguing that the materials, including a pen drive, had only just been served on them and required time for proper review.
The prosecution agreed to defer that aspect of the proceedings to ensure fairness.
Adu-Boahene has pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for personal gain, and obtaining public property by false pretences.