My assistance to Adu-Boahene, wife were part of my professional duties - Mildred Donkor tells court

The third prosecution witness in the trial of former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, has told the Accra High Court that her involvement in transactions on accounts linked to the accused persons was lawful, as the assistance she rendered formed part of her duties as a banker.

Mildred Donkor, a former director of Advantage Solutions Limited, said she assisted Adu-Boahene with transactions on the accounts in her official capacity and that her actions were lawful.

"The assistance I provided was legal as part of my banking duties," she told the court today (June 9) during cross-examination by counsel for the accused persons, Samuel Atta Akyea.

The witness was responding to questions regarding transactions conducted on accounts belonging to BNC Communications Bureau Limited, Advantage Solutions Limited and related entities.

Pre-signed cheques

Ms Donkor also explained circumstances under which pre-signed cheque books were used on some of the accounts.

She said the arrangement became necessary because obtaining the signatures of Adu-Boahene and his wife whenever transactions were required was often difficult.

The witness also said many of the transaction requests were treated as urgent.

"The pre-signed cheque books were arranged because getting Adu-Boahene and the wife to sign these cheques was difficult anytime there was a transaction. Most often the instructions for the withdrawals were termed as urgent," she said.

However, when counsel suggested that she used the pre-signed cheques to withdraw funds from the various accounts, she disagreed.

Asked whether she personally used any of the monies withdrawn from the accounts, she answered: "No, my Lord."

Withdrawals figures 

During the proceedings, Mr Atta Akyea put it to the witness that withdrawal instructions contained in emails before the court showed that one Frank Anane had withdrawn GH¢17.6 million from some of the accounts.

"I can't tell, my Lord," the witness responded.

When it was further suggested that bank statements showed that Mr Anane had withdrawn a total of GH¢18.33 million from accounts belonging to BNC Communications Bureau Limited, Advantage Solutions Limited and their subsidiaries, Ms Donkor again replied: "I can't tell, my Lord."

The witness gave the same response when counsel suggested that withdrawals by Mr Anane, Edith and Gerald Osei Tutu from the various accounts amounted to GH¢59.13 million.

Emails admitted

Earlier, proceedings were interrupted when the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, objected to the defence's attempt to tender a number of emails relating to withdrawal and payment instructions.

Dr Srem-Sai argued that the charges before the court centred on allegations that state funds had been dishonestly appropriated through transfers into accounts controlled by the accused persons and that the emails related to transactions that occurred after the funds had already been paid into those accounts.

"The question is how these payment instructions in the emails relate to the allegations of stealing public money," he submitted.

Mr Atta Akyea, however, maintained that the emails were relevant to the defence.

He argued that the documents demonstrated the movement of funds through various accounts and supported the defence's contention that the prosecution's theory of theft could not be sustained.

The court overruled the objection and admitted the emails into evidence.

Charges 

Adu-Boahene has pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, using public office for personal gain, and obtaining public property by false pretences.

His wife is facing charges of conspiracy to use public office for personal gain, conspiracy to launder money, and money laundering.