Former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, is expected to return to court next week as proceedings continue in the ongoing criminal trial over the alleged misappropriation of GH¢49.1 million in state funds.
lawyer for Adu-Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, said the court has set aside three consecutive days next week for the hearing of the case.
According to him, proceedings will resume on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday and Thursday.
“Next week we’ll be scheduled to continue the case. We’ve been given three clear days. Starting on Tuesday, we’ll continue to Wednesday and end on Thursday next week,” he said.
Atta Akyea explained that the hearing will focus on the continued cross-examination of a prosecution witness who was initially charged in the matter but was later converted into a witness for the state.
“It is PW3, the individual who was charged by the Attorney General and later converted into a prosecution witness, who is continuing a cross-examination,” he stated.
The lawyer also criticised the conduct of the Attorney General prior to the commencement of the trial, arguing that public comments made about the case created the impression that his clients had already been found guilty before appearing in court.
He claimed that statements made during a press conference by the Attorney General suggested there was overwhelming evidence against the accused persons and that they should consider plea bargaining.
“I have to tell you that it was the Attorney General who concluded that before they were arraigned before a court of law, my clients were guilty,” Atta Akyea said.
He further alleged that the Attorney General acted as both prosecutor and judge in the court of public opinion before the matter reached trial.
“The Attorney General was a prosecutor and then the judge at the same time, and this is what they sold to the press. They now have to come to court and prove the matter beyond reasonable doubt,” he added.
According to him, extensive media coverage of the allegations has created prejudice against the accused persons, insisting that the evidence emerging in court presents a different picture from what has been portrayed publicly.
“There has been a lot of poison in the media space already, but the story in the court is different,” he stated.
The case continues after the Court of Appeal recently overturned a High Court decision that denied a request by the defence for further disclosures. The appellate court directed prosecutors to provide documents being sought by Adu-Boahene’s legal team but rejected a request for the publication of National Security account details spanning multiple administrations.
The court also dismissed an application for a stay of proceedings, allowing the trial to continue.
Adu-Boahene is standing trial over allegations that he misappropriated GH¢49.1 million linked to a cyber-defence software procurement deal. He has denied wrongdoing.
