The third prosecution witness (PW3) and a former Director of Advantage Solutions Limited (ASL), Ms Mildred Donkor, in the ongoing trial of the case, Republic v. Kwabena Adu-Boahene and two others, has told an Accra High Court that ASL has not been involved in any criminal activities.
The prosecution had alleged the ASL owned by Mr Adu-Boahene, former Director General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), was used as a holding entity to funnel and launder diverted state funds in the ongoing trial involving an alleged GH¢49 million loss to the state.
However, testifying under cross-examination by Defence Counsel Samuel Atta Akyea on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, Ms Donkor confirmed that the firm was not engaged in any criminal enterprise.
Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng are being tried in court over allegations of causing financial loss of GH¢49 million to the state by transferring money intended for purchasing state security software, into accounts of their private company.
But under cross-examination, Ms Donkor, who was originally charged alongside the accused persons but was later converted into a prosecution witness, reiterated that employees of ASL and its subsidiaries, including Vertex Properties, had their salaries paid regularly through Advantage Solutions.
She further stated that Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions, as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 pension contributions, were processed and paid consistently, with pension fund manager Petra engaged to set up the scheme.
Ms Donkor also admitted that she personally prepared Excel sheets for Petra to support pension payments and that receipts bearing her name as a contributor were issued after payment.
Maintaining that she acted only on the instructions of the accused persons, Ms Donkor agreed with defence counsel’s suggestion that the payments were not criminal.
When asked directly whether her actions in processing the payments were criminal, she responded: “No, it was not criminal.”
Objection sustained
An attempt by the defence counsel to tender email transactions between the witness and Petra was however rejected by the court presided over by Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, Court of Appeal Judge sitting as an additional High Court Judge.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai objected to admitting the communications, arguing they occurred in 2024, nearly four years after the transaction forming the basis of the trial charges.
“There is no obvious connection between this communication in email and issues contained in the email and the issue before this Honourable court. We pray that the document be rejected,” the Deputy Attorney-General submitted.
In response, Defence counsel Atta Akyea argued that the emails would help establish ASL as a legitimate business and not an alleged criminal enterprise, pointing to the charge sheet’s description that the accused used ASL to “run an elaborate criminal enterprise using ASL through which the stolen funds were funneled.”
However, the trial court sustained the objection.
“I fail to see how email communication between the witness who was a Director of ASL and communicated with Petra in that capacity, will assist the court in determining the guilt or otherwise of the accused persons.
“The charges levelled against the accused persons are in respect of conduct in the year 2020 and this email correspondence are from August 2024.
“To that extent, I am clear in my mind that even if it is established that the Tier 2 pension payments of employees subject matter of email communication were to be admitted I do not see how that will relate to the charges against the accused persons,” Justice Achibonga ruled.
Not guilty plea
Mr Adu-Boahene has pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretences, one count of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, one count of using public office for personal gain, and one count of obtaining public property by false pretences.
His wife, Angela who is charged with collaboration to use public office for personal gain, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering, has also pleaded not guilty.
Both have been admitted to bail by the trial court.
By Kyei Boateng
