Cheque books, EOCO statements take centre stage in GH¢49m NSB trial

Twelve cheque books and six caution statements have become central to proceedings in the ongoing GH¢49 million National Signals Bureau trial at the Accra High Court.

The case, being heard by Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, involves former NSB Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Angela Adjei Boateng and Advantage Solutions Limited.

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, the prosecution placed before the court 12 cheque books allegedly connected to UMB Bank accounts. Prosecutors say the cheque books had been signed in advance by either the first accused, Mr Adu-Boahene, or the second accused, Ms Boateng.

Their third witness, Mildred Donkor, told the court the cheque books were used to withdraw cash and distribute money to different individuals.

But the defence sharply disputed that account.

Counsel for Mr Adu-Boahene, Samuel Atta Akyea, suggested that Ms Donkor had taken the cheque books from Mr Adu-Boahene’s office after she became caught up in the investigation. He alleged that she did so in an attempt to secure her own freedom.

The court recorded the defence’s position before allowing the cheque books to be admitted into evidence.

Ms Donkor also faced questions over six caution statements she gave to the Economic and Organised Crime Office during the investigation.

Those statements were admitted by the court as Exhibits 13, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D and 13E. The prosecution did not object to their admission.

The court noted that the statements were made at a time when Ms Donkor herself had been arrested, detained, granted bail and charged by EOCO with conspiracy to steal and money laundering.

During cross-examination, Mr Atta Akyea asked whether she had told EOCO the truth in all six statements.

“Yes,” she replied.

The defence also questioned her about legal representation during her interrogation. Ms Donkor said she had dealt with a number of lawyers at different points in the investigation, but said she did not personally pay any of them.

In another line of questioning, Mr Atta Akyea referred the witness to Proverbs 19:5, which warns that a false witness will not go unpunished.

Asked whether she believed in the verse, Ms Donkor answered: “Yes.”

A separate witness statement dated 2025 was later tendered by the defence and admitted as Exhibit 14 without opposition from the prosecution.

Ms Donkor told the court she had no corrections to make to her written statement, even after reflecting on its contents.

The trial has been adjourned to May 12, 13 and 14, 2026. The court is expected to sit at 10:00am on each of those days.

Ms Donkor was not always a witness for the state. She was previously one of the accused persons in the case.

That changed on October 15, 2025, when the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, withdrew the charges against her after she agreed to testify for the prosecution.

The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, filed a notice at the High Court confirming that she had been discharged under Section 59 of the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act, 1960, Act 30.

Her evidence is now expected to play a major role in the state’s attempt to trace the movement of funds in the case.

According to her witness statement, Ms Donkor said she met Mr Adu-Boahene and Ms Boateng through the Cedar Mountain Assemblies of God Church at East Legon in Accra.

She said Mr Adu-Boahene later asked her to become a director of Advantage Solutions Limited to satisfy company registration requirements.

However, she insists she did not run the company or make important decisions.

She said she acted on instructions from Mr Adu-Boahene and Ms Boateng and handled financial transactions on their behalf.

These allegedly included cash withdrawals and deliveries ranging from GH¢2,000 to GH¢1 million.

Ms Donkor also referred to a GH¢2.5 million transfer from BNC Communications Bureau Limited to I-ZAR Limited, a company owned by Rashida Saani, on April 29, 2020.

The prosecution says her testimony will assist the court in understanding the financial trail behind the alleged GH¢49 million loss to the state.