Adu Boahene is a former Director of the NSB
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah, the Attorney-General’s own prosecution witness and Head of Finance at the National Signals Bureau (NSB), has delivered testimony that sharply contradicts the prosecution’s case, revealing that there was no state-owned BNC and no US$7 million transaction—raising serious questions about the charges against former NSB Director-General, Kwabena Adu-Boahene.
Adumuah made these revelations at the High Court (General Jurisdiction 10) on Thursday, December 11, 2025, during cross-examination in the ongoing trial involving Adu-Boahene and two others.
The defence team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea Esq, subjected the witness to extensive questioning on her prior statements and the financial records of the Bureau. The State was represented by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, assisted by Esi Yankah and Rabiatu Abdulai.
Knowledge of foreign exchange rates confirmed
During cross-examination, Atta Akyea focused on Adumuah’s accounting background and her familiarity with foreign exchange rates.
When asked whether she had ever personally arranged funds from private sources for NSB operations, the witness replied in the negative. She confirmed that, as an accountant, she had a clear understanding of foreign exchange rates and acknowledged that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) officially publishes cedi–dollar exchange rates, which are publicly accessible.
Tense exchange over admission of BoG document
Atta Akyea sought to tender a Bank of Ghana exchange rate document covering the period from January 1 to December 31, 2020. The Deputy Attorney-General objected, citing Section 121 of the Evidence Act, 1975 (NRCD 323), and argued that the witness lacked personal knowledge of BoG records.
The defence countered, invoking Section 9(2) of the Evidence Act, arguing that the document reflected publicly known exchange rates relevant to the case. After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge ruled in favour of the defence, admitting the BoG exchange rate document into evidence.
Cash transfers and cedi–dollar calculations
The defence then examined Exhibit B3, which the witness identified as a SWIFT transfer from Fidelity Bank to ISC Holdings. She confirmed that the amount transferred was US$87,500 on April 6, 2020, ordered from the “Coordinator’s Account – NSC.”
Using an exchange rate of 5.87, the witness calculated the cedi equivalent as GH¢513,625, confirming that the transaction appeared in the relevant bank statements.
Atta Akyea led the witness through further calculations, establishing that at the same exchange rate, the cedi equivalent of US$7 million would be GH¢41,090,000—not GH¢49,100,000. The variance, she confirmed, was GH¢8,010,000.
Similar discrepancies were demonstrated using exchange rates applicable in June 2021, as well as the highest and lowest exchange rates recorded in 2020. In each scenario, the witness agreed that GH¢49.1 million could not reasonably translate into US$7 million at prevailing exchange rates.
Additional SWIFT transfers
The witness also confirmed additional SWIFT transfers, including a US$100,000 transfer to ISC Holdings on June 8, 2021, at an exchange rate of 5.85, translating to GH¢585,000. Again, she agreed that applying this rate to GH¢49.1 million would yield more than US$8.3 million, not US$7 million.
Purpose of the cheques and control of accounts
When questioned about the purpose of three cheques totalling GH¢49.1 million, Adumuah stated that she did not know, citing the “need-to-know” policy within national security operations.
She confirmed that authority over the Special Operations Account at Fidelity Bank rested with the National Security Coordinator, the late Joshua Kyeremeh, who was a signatory to the account. She further testified that, prior to the establishment of the NSB in December 2020, Kwabena Adu-Boahene could not transact on the account without the approval and participation of the National Security Coordinator.
She also confirmed that Special Operations Accounts were not subject to routine audits by the Auditor-General and that fund transfer requests originated from the National Security Council Secretariat, not the BNC.
Following the testimony, the presiding judge, Justice John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, adjourned the case to February 11, 12 and 13, 2026.
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