🇬🇭GhanaWest Africa
Accra High Court rejects Attorney-General's attempt to label BNC payments as private transactions in Adu-Boahene trial
via GhanaWeb3 min read
An Accra High Court has dismissed the Attorney-General's attempts to portray cheque payments as private transactions in the ongoing trial of former Director-General of the NSB, Kwabena Adu-Boahene. The ruling occurred during the cross-examination of Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah, Head of Finance at the National Signals Bureau, by defence counsel Samuel Atta Akyea. The defence argued that cheque payments and withdrawals were linked to national security operational activities, not personal transactions. Ms. Adumuah confirmed that cash withdrawals were for operational purposes, not private use, and that senior officials made significant withdrawals from a coordinator’s account at Fidelity Bank. Disputes arose over a UMB Bank account, referred to by the defence as the “BNC Operations Account,” into which two cheques of GH₵1 million and GH₵21 million were deposited. The court admitted one WhatsApp exchange into evidence, which referenced arrangements for cash disbursements for official purposes, including fuel support for a minister’s trips, after the witness confirmed sending the message. Other attempts to admit WhatsApp messages were rejected. The witness maintained that financial requests and withdrawals were tied to operational needs but often could not recall specific details. The presiding judge adjourned proceedings to April 27, 28, and 29, 2026, for continuation of the cross-examination.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to urgently operationalize several completed health facilities in the Ashanti Region to reduce pressure on the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital KATH. Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, Ranking Member on Parliament's Health Committee, stated that congestion and bed shortages at KATH are due to delays in bringing key hospitals into full operation. The Minority highlighted the Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua, the Afari Military Hospital, the Trede District Hospital, and the Kokoben-Oforikrom District Hospital as facilities intended to ease KATH's burden. They noted that the 500-bed Afari Military Hospital was operationalized and the 250-bed Ashanti Regional Hospital at Sewua was substantially completed under the previous administration. The caucus expressed difficulty understanding why the government would suspend a hospital CEO rather than accelerate the full operationalization of these facilities. They also pointed out that the 100-bed Trede and Kokoben-Oforikrom district hospitals, commissioned in 2024, remain largely non-operational. The Minority argued that these delays have worsened pressure on KATH and contributed to the "No Bed Syndrome," urging the government to immediately operationalize all completed hospitals and address systemic challenges identified by healthcare professionals.
Must ReadA second group of Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at Accra International Airport. This evacuation follows escalating xenophobic tensions in South Africa. A video shared online shows one evacuee being assisted onto a stretcher and into an ambulance upon arrival in Accra, where officials and health personnel received the returnees. This group is part of the government's ongoing evacuation efforts for Ghanaians affected by renewed anti-immigrant attacks and insecurity in parts of South Africa. The government had previously approved the evacuation of hundreds of Ghanaians who registered with the country's High Commission in Pretoria after reports of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.
A security guard, Joseph Obedekeme, recounted the moment a building near Melcom Plus in the Industrial Area collapsed, trapping two individuals. Obedekeme, who has worked at the location for over a year, stated that he narrowly escaped the collapse, which occurred around 4:25 am. He reported hearing a loud noise from a nearby shop, followed by the collapse of the entire building. According to Obedekeme, a woman sleeping inside the building was trapped, and two people were inside at the time of the incident. One person managed to escape by jumping out and was taken to the hospital. The Ghana National Fire Service has since rescued two people from the rubble, with one reported to be in critical condition.