The Director of Finance at the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Edith Opokua Adumuah, has told a High Court in Accra that she did not know the purpose of the three cheques totaling GH¢49.1 million for which Kwabena Adu-Boahene and his wife are standing trial, explaining that under national security “need-to-know” protocols, only top-level officials would have such clearance to be aware of the transaction.
Madam Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah, the Attorney-General’s prosecution witness also told the High Court that based on officially published Bank of Ghana exchange rates, the GH¢49.1 million at the heart of the case against the accused persons could not, at any material time in 2020 or 2021, be the cedi equivalent of US$7 million as alleged by the prosecution in the Adu-Boahene case.
The testimony was given at the High Court (General Jurisdiction 10) on Thursday, 11 December 2025, during cross-examination in the ongoing trial of former NSB Director-General, Mr. Kwabena Adu-Boahene, and two others. Defence counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, Esq., led the questioning, while the State was represented by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, assisted by Esi Yankah and Rabiatu Abdulai.
Establishing the witness’s competence, Mr. Atta Akyea asked: “So in your work as an accountant, you have a clear understanding of foreign exchange rates?” Madam Adumuah replied, “Yes, my Lord.” She also agreed that “the Bank of Ghana officially states the cedi-to-dollar exchange rates” and that “these rates are publicly accessible on the Bank of Ghana website.”
When the defence sought to tender a Bank of Ghana exchange-rate document covering January 1 to December 31, 2020, the Deputy Attorney-General objected.
However, the court ruled in favour of the defence, with the presiding judge stating: “The interbank exchange rate is relevant. The witness is competent to aid in tendering the document. The Bank of Ghana exchange-rate document is to be received as evidence.”
Admission of the Bank of Ghana exchange-rate document
Atta Akyea: “My Lord, I seek to tender the Bank of Ghana exchange-rate document from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020.”
Deputy Attorney-General: “The witness is not an official of the Bank of Ghana and has no personal knowledge of the contents of the document. Its relevance has not been established.”
Atta Akyea: “My Lord, under Section 9, Clause 2 of the Evidence Act, this document reflects publicly known facts that can assist the court.”
Judge: “The interbank exchange rate is relevant. The witness is competent to aid in tendering the document. The Bank of Ghana exchange-rate document is admitted in evidence.”
SWIFT transfer and April 2020 calculations
Atta Akyea: “What is Exhibit B3?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “A SWIFT transfer from Fidelity Bank to ISC Holdings.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the amount transferred?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “US$87,500.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the date of the transfer?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “6th April 2020.”
Atta Akyea: “Who is the ordering customer?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “Coordinator’s Account–NSC.”
Atta Akyea: “What was the cedi exchange rate for this transfer?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “5.87.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the cedi equivalent of US$87,500 at that rate?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢513,625.”
Atta Akyea: “Do such payments reflect in the bank statements of Special Operations Accounts?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “Yes, my Lord.”
US$7 million comparison
Atta Akyea: “At an exchange rate of 5.87 as at 6th April 2020, what is the cedi equivalent of US$7 million?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢41,090,000.”
Atta Akyea: “GH¢41,090,000 is not equal to GH¢49,100,000?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “Yes, my Lord.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the difference?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢8,010,000.”
June 2021 transfer and calculations
Atta Akyea: “Who is the sender on the SWIFT advice dated 8th June 2021?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “Fidelity Bank.”
Atta Akyea: “Who is the ordering customer?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “Coordinator’s Account–NSB.”
Atta Akyea: “Who is the beneficiary?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “ISC Holdings.”
Atta Akyea: “What amount was transferred?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “US$100,000.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the cedi equivalent?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢585,000.”
Atta Akyea: “At what exchange rate?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “5.85.”
Atta Akyea: “At this rate, what does GH¢49.1 million convert to in dollars?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “US$8,393,062.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the cedi equivalent of US$7 million at 5.85?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢40,950,000.”
Atta Akyea: “So GH¢49.1 million cannot convert to US$7 million at that rate?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “Yes, my Lord.”
Highest and lowest exchange rates in 2020
Atta Akyea: “What was the highest cedi-to-dollar exchange rate in 2020?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “5.7573 as at 31st December 2020.”
Atta Akyea: “What is the cedi equivalent of US$7 million at that rate?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢40,301,100.”
Atta Akyea: “What was the lowest exchange rate?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “5.2793 as at 24th June 2020.”
Atta Akyea: “What does US$7 million translate to at that rate?”
Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah: “GH¢36,955,100.”
Purpose of the GH¢49.1 million
On the purpose of the cheques, Mr. Atta Akyea asked, “In your position as head of finance under the National Security Coordinator, can you tell what the GH₵49.1 million, the total of three cheques, were for?”
She replied, “My Lord, I do not know.” Atta Akyea pressed, “You will not know, as on account of the need-to-know policy, you don’t have clearance to know?” She said, “Yes, my Lord.”
He clarified, “So you agree that National Security persons with clearance to know will know?” She confirmed, “Yes, my Lord.” When asked, “Now for these three cheques totaling GH₵49.1 million, who will have the clearance to know the purpose of the funds?”
Witness replied, “My Lord, I assume the Director General, National Security Coordinator, maybe the minister of the National Security, or anybody at the topmost hierarchy of the National Security Council.”
Routine practice
Mr. Atta Akyea also explored the control of Special Operations Accounts. He asked, “Before the establishment of NSB on 29th December 2020, all funding and financial operations of the BNC department in the office of the National Security Coordinator were conducted under the authority of the National Security Coordinator?”
She replied, “Yes, my Lord.” He asked, “Who opened the Special Operations Account in Fidelity Bank?” She said, “The National Security Coordinator, the late Joshua Kyeremeh.”
He continued, “You have also confirmed that the late Kyeremeh was a signatory to the Special Operations Account with Fidelity Bank?” She replied, “Yes, my Lord.” Mr. Atta Akyea added, “It follows from what you told this Honourable Court that it is the National Security Coordinator who controls all financial transactions of BNC?” and she confirmed, “Yes, my Lord.”
He further asked, “Kwabena Adu-Boahene, before the establishment of NSB on 29th December 2020, could never transact any financial business on the Fidelity Bank Account without express approval and participation of the National Security Coordinator?” She replied, “Yes, my Lord.”
Nature of Accounts
He pressed on the nature of accounts, asking, “The Account described as ‘Director BNC’ is not a general administration account. Is that not so?” She replied, “Yes, my Lord.”
He added, “You will agree with me that all Special Operations Accounts, including the one referred to as ‘Director BNC,’ have not been subjected to the Auditor-General’s routine audits?” She confirmed, “Yes, my Lord.”
Mr. Atta Akyea also clarified the role of institutions in fund transfers. He asked, “From Exhibit A, which you’re holding, it is the National Security Secretariat that is requesting the transfer of funds and not the BNC?”
Ms. Adumuah confirmed, “Yes, my Lord, the account number is the Coordinator’s Account used for BNC operations.” He asked, “It is the National Security Council Secretariat that requested the transfer of funds?” and she said, “Yes, my Lord.”
Following extensive questioning and testimony, the Presiding Judge, John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, adjourned the case to the 11th, 12th, and 13th of February 2026.
Controversies
This latest development adds to the growing list of controversies surrounding the case, particularly as sensitive national security matters and special operations accounts from the Akufo-Addo era are now being ventilated in open court and effectively rendered public documents.
The controversy has been further deepened by confirmation from International Security Consulting Holding Ltd. (I.S.C. Holding Ltd.), the Israeli-based firm contracted to supply the cyber system, that all equipment under the $7 million agreement was duly delivered and that full payment was made by Ghana’s National Security in accordance with the contract.
Against this backdrop, some observers have raised concerns that the prosecution may carry political undertones, arguing that the case appears to have been assembled in a hurried and insufficiently thorough manner.
