An investigator from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has maintained that the account from which GH¢49.1 million at the centre of the National Signals Bureau (NSB) trial was transferred was a state account belonging to the agency.
Frank Marshall Cromwell, an EOCO Staff Officer and the fourth prosecution witness in the trial of former NSB Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, made the assertion during cross-examination at the Accra High Court.
His testimony followed a challenge by defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea, who questioned the prosecution’s description of the account, known as the Coordinator’s Account-NSC, as a public account.
“I put it to you that your designation of the Coordinator’s Account-NSC, as a public account or State BNC account, is erroneous,” Mr Atta Akyea told the witness.
However, Mr Cromwell disagreed, explaining that investigations showed the account was among those operated by the Bureau of National Communications (BNC), the predecessor of the NSB.
“I disagree because the head of Finance of the Bureau of National Communications listed accounts operated by the Bureau of National Communications, which included the Director BNC account at Fidelity Bank,” he said.
The witness further told the court that the account was opened on the instructions of the National Security Coordinator for the operational activities of the BNC.
“I am aware that the account known as the Director BNC account was created on the instructions of the National Security Coordinator for operational purposes of the Bureau of National Communications,” he added.
The prosecution has accused Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife, Sarah Adwoa Safo Adu-Boahene, of diverting GH¢49.1 million belonging to the NSB, which was allegedly intended for the procurement of a cyber defence system.
According to the prosecution, the funds were transferred through a series of transactions involving private accounts and companies linked to the accused persons.
Meanwhile, proceedings revealed that the defence team may require additional time to complete its cross-examination of the EOCO investigator.
Presiding judge Justice Francis Ato Achibonga questioned Mr Atta Akyea on the duration of the cross-examination, noting that the witness had spent about six weeks in the witness box.
“Counsel, I always allow defence lawyers all the time to cross-examine witnesses in these cases, but the court also has a duty to manage the case. The witness has been in the box for six weeks; how far do you want to go?” the judge asked.
In response, Mr Atta Akyea said there were still several outstanding issues to address, including matters concerning disclosures ordered by the Court of Appeal on May 28, 2026.
He indicated that the defence could seek further directions from the appellate court regarding those disclosures.
The lawyer told the court that he was about 60 per cent through his cross-examination of the witness.
The prosecution had earlier indicated its intention to close its case this week after calling four witnesses. However, the extended cross-examination of Mr Cromwell means proceedings are expected to continue beyond that timeline.