Ex-security chief arrested for diverting $7m
A top Ghanaian security official was arrested over the weekend for allegedly skimming millions of dollars from a cyber-security contract, authorities said Monday, as President John Mahama continues an anti-corruption drive.
Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the country’s former National Signals Bureau (NSB) director-general, is accused of diverting funds from a $7 million contract meant to strengthen Ghana’s cyber-security infrastructure.
Mahama, who took office in January, has vowed to reclaim stolen public funds during the tenure of former president Nana Akufo-Addo.
Officials say the crackdowns, including a probe into ex-finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta, mark a renewed push to hold former officials accountable for financial misconduct and restore public trust in government institutions.
Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Dominic Ayine said Monday that Adu-Boahene was apprehended for allegedly diverting funds from a cyber-defence systems contract, signed in January 2020 with Israeli firm RLC Holdings Limited.
The deal was designed to bolster Ghana’s ability to combat cyber threats, data breaches and digital espionage. However, investigators by state agency Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) found that the funds were instead channelled into private accounts linked to Adu-Boahene and his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng.
Shortly after the contract was signed, Adu-Boahene transferred more than 27 million Ghanaian cedis ($1.7 million) from the NSB’s accounts to a private one, Ayine said.
“Official documentation on the transfer reveals that the amount was for the payment of cyber-defence system software. He transferred the money to his private company,” Ayine said.
Authorities say the couple then used more diverted funds to acquire multiple properties in Ghana and abroad.
Both remain in detention as the investigation expands to identify other individuals involved.
Investigators are also probing Ofori-Atta, the former finance minister, over alleged financial irregularities linked to the issuance of government bonds and public debt management.
Additionally, the government is reviewing a payroll fraud scandal at Ghana’s National Service Secretariat, where over 81,000 “ghost names” were allegedly used to siphon millions from state coffers.
“The era of impunity is over,” Ayine said. “We will ensure that all those responsible for the looting of public funds face the full force of the law.”
The government has pledged to expedite legal proceedings in its anti-graft campaign, with prosecutions expected to begin in the coming months.
The corruption investigations come as the country seeks to reassure international investors and financial institutions amid efforts to stabilise its economy.
The government has been negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for financial support, with governance reforms among the key conditions.
AFP
