The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, has revealed that Kwabena Adu Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB) formerly known as the Bureau of National Communications (BNC), has been arrested over allegations of financial misconduct related to a $7 million cyber defense system contract.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, March 24, Mr. Ayine disclosed that the contract, aimed at enhancing Ghana’s cybersecurity capabilities, was compromised when funds allocated for the project were allegedly diverted into Boahene’s private account.
“In his capacity as Director of the National BNC, Mr. Adu-Boahene on January 30, 2020, signed a contract on behalf on the Government of Ghana and the National Security, on one hand, and, on the other hand, an Israeli company called ISC Holdings Ltd. The contract was for the purchase of a “Cyber Defense System Software” at a price Seven Million United States dollars (US$ 7,000,000),” he said.
He stated that on February 6, 2020, Mr. Adu Boahene initiated a transfer of GH¢27,100,000 from the National BNC’s Operations Account at Fidelity Bank to his private BNC account at UMB Bank. Official records indicate that the transferred funds were intended for the purchase of a “Cyber Defense System Software” from ISC Holdings in Israel on behalf of the National BNC. However, in executing the transaction, Mr. Adu Boahene redirected the funds from the National BNC to his privately owned company.
“On February 6, 2020, Mr. Adu Boahene transferred an initial amount of GH¢27,100,000 from the National BNC’s Operations Account at Fidelity Bank to his private BNC’s account at UMB Bank.” he added.
The Attorney-General emphasized the critical role the cyber defense system was intended to play in detecting, preventing, and responding to cyber threats, data breaches, and digital espionage. However, unauthorized financial transactions allegedly carried out by Mr. Adu Boahene undermined the project’s execution, prompting legal action.
