The legal team representing Kwabena Adu Boahene, former Director of Ghana’s National Signals Bureau (NSB), has fiercely pushed back against public narratives framing him and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, as criminals. In a strongly worded statement issued on March 24, 2025, legal counsel Samuel Atta Akyea insisted that the treatment of the couple is unjust, prejudicial, and a departure from due process.
Background: Arrest at Kotoka International Airport
Mr. Boahene was arrested on March 20, 2025, upon arriving at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) from the United Kingdom. The arrest was carried out through a joint operation between the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Attorney-General’s Department, spearheaded by EOCO Deputy Director Raymond Archer.
The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, disclosed at a press briefing that Mr. Boahene is implicated in a financial misconduct case involving a $7 million cyber defense system contract. The allegations point toward embezzlement of state funds and money laundering, with significant real estate investments in Accra and overseas reportedly under scrutiny.
Legal Defence: “Not Common Criminals”
In their response, Boahene’s legal team refuted the portrayal of their client as a fugitive or a criminal mastermind. According to Samuel Atta Akyea, Boahene’s stature as a former top security official and his wife’s status as a reputable businesswoman are incompatible with the criminal image being circulated.
“Mr. Kwabena Adu Boahene cannot be called a common criminal, and neither can his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng,” the statement emphasized.
The lawyers further highlighted that Angela Adjei Boateng is an established entrepreneur, actively involved in “considerable business activities,” and not, as implied in some media reports, a passive accomplice or dependent spouse.
Disputing the Narrative: Business Class, Not Hiding
One specific claim the defence refuted was that Mr. Boahene allegedly attempted to conceal his identity by flying economy class. The Attorney-General had reportedly interpreted this as an effort to avoid detection.
However, Boahene’s team insisted that he traveled in business class, and that this detail can be independently verified.
“It beggars belief that a criminal should be audacious enough to fly out of the jurisdiction through Kotoka International Airport, a security area, and return on his own freewill,” Atta Akyea argued.
The statement further questioned the logic of a wanted criminal voluntarily entering Ghana through a heavily monitored facility instead of using more discreet borders such as Togo or Côte d’Ivoire.
How the Arrest Happened
According to the legal team, the arrest was orchestrated under misleading pretenses. Upon arrival at KIA, Boahene was allegedly told there were passport irregularities, prompting him to engage with immigration officials. He was then lured into a public area, handcuffed in plain view, and subsequently taken into custody by EOCO officers.
This, according to the defence, was a calculated act of public humiliation rather than a lawful and dignified process.
“The manner in which he was arrested reflects a deliberate attempt at persecution rather than justice,” said the lawyers.
The Charges: What Is Boahene Accused Of?
The core of the case centers around Boahene’s alleged role in the misappropriation of funds tied to a $7 million cyber defense system contract. According to the Attorney-General, the funds—intended for national security infrastructure—were instead funneled into real estate acquisitions, both in Ghana and abroad.
While formal charges have not yet been announced, EOCO’s investigation is reportedly examining financial records, asset holdings, and foreign property linked to Boahene and his spouse.
The couple’s net worth has not been officially declared, but the probe suggests that multi-million-dollar property investments may be at the center of the laundering allegations.
Call for Due Process
Boahene’s legal team has demanded that authorities uphold the principle of due process, warning against trial by media and political interference.
“The Attorney-General is using a different eyeglass, and we cannot fault him for that,” Atta Akyea noted, implying that the legal process is being influenced by political or reputational considerations.
The defence team urged the public and the legal community to remain objective and to resist premature judgment while investigations proceed.
Who Is Kwabena Adu Boahene?
Boahene is a former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, one of Ghana’s key national security institutions. With deep international networks, he has previously represented Ghana at several global security summits. His reputation in diplomatic and intelligence circles was, until this controversy, largely positive.
His wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, is known in business circles for her involvement in real estate and import-export ventures, further elevating the couple’s profile in Ghanaian elite society.
Public Reaction and Political Implications
The case has triggered widespread public interest, especially given the nature of the NSB’s work and the sensitive implications of a former top official being investigated for cyber-related fraud. Political analysts have warned that the case could have ramifications for trust in security institutions, especially if due process is seen to be compromised.
Meanwhile, EOCO and the Attorney-General’s Department have remained firm in their commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that no one is above the law, regardless of status or past service.
Final Thoughts
The unfolding case against Kwabena Adu Boahene has become a high-stakes legal and political drama. With allegations of cyber fraud, asset laundering, and public deception, it tests the balance between accountability and fairness in Ghana’s legal system.
While the Attorney-General builds his case, the defence continues to fight against what they see as reputational damage and unjust targeting. As more details emerge, the nation watches closely—because the outcome of this case may shape not just Boahene’s future, but the public’s trust in justice itself.