The Member of Parliament for Bekwai Constituency, Ralph Poku-Adusei, has urged the Office of the Attorney General to exercise caution in its handling of the criminal charges against Kwabena Adu-Boahene, former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, and three others.

The charges, which include conspiracy to steal, obtaining public property by false statements, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering, stem from allegations of misappropriating $7 million in state funds.

In an interview with GHOne TV on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Poku-Adusei, a seasoned lawyer with about 15 years of practice, criticised the Attorney General’s decision to hold a press conference detailing the alleged offenses and evidence against Adu-Boahene.

He argued that this approach was inappropriate, given Adu-Boahene’s background as a security official.

“Coming to the media space to render a press conference detailing the alleged offenses and the evidence, to me, was a wrong approach,” Poku-Adusei stated.

He emphasised the need for a more discreet engagement with the suspect, considering his sensitive role at the National Signals Bureau.

Poku-Adusei highlighted the principle of presumption of innocence in criminal jurisprudence, noting that the Attorney General should have approached Adu-Boahene as innocent until proven guilty.

He suggested that private discussions could have elicited critical information without compromising national security.

“What this has done now is that it has exposed the nation in terms of national security,” he warned, expressing concern over the potential damage caused by publicising sensitive details, particularly following the release of a letter by Kwabena Adu-Boahene addressed to the current Director of National Security.

The MP also cautioned that the Attorney General’s approach could jeopardise the prosecution’s ability to preserve evidence and effectively pursue the case.

He urged the office to adopt a more proactive and mindful strategy in future cases, stressing that criminal proceedings require a distinct mindset.

“They will struggle, even in the coming days, with how they are going to preserve the little evidence that they have and, in the end, how they are going to use it. I strongly urge them that this should be the first and last. We are all here, and we strongly believe in accountability. We won’t say that they shouldn’t prosecute where necessary.

"They should make decisions, be very proactive, and accept that in the criminal process, criminal proceedings, or in criminal jurisprudence, things work differently. They must psyche themselves up that they are up against potential criminals, so the person is already ahead and in that mindset where he can be convicted; He will forever be in the mode of undermining his opponent,” he stated.

The case involves Kwabena Adu-Boahene, his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, and two others, who have pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge.

The Attorney General’s office has faced criticisms from the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau’s legal team, who described the media briefing as a violation of their clients’ rights and an attempt to prejudice public opinion.

GA/AE