By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, May 12, GNA– Madam Mildred Donkor, the third prosecution witness in the trial involving Kwabena Adu-Boahene and others, has recounted her experience with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), raising concerns about legal representation during investigations.
Donkor told the court during cross-examination led by Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for the accused persons, that she was detained for long hours at EOCO offices while nursing her baby.
She said she reported to EOCO with her daughter and spent several hours during interrogations.
On the first day, she arrived between 0900 and 1000 hours and left between 2200 and 2300 hours. Subsequent visits also lasted late into the evening.
She described the experience as traumatic and said she later sought counselling from Rev. Wengam of Cedar Mountain Assemblies of God Church.
Donkor said she had no lawyer in mind before going to EOCO until Adu-Boahene’s wife allegedly gave her contacts of lawyers to call.
She said she later met a lawyer identified as Kwaku Osei Asare before her first appearance at EOCO and subsequently saw Mr Atta Akyea and other lawyers during interrogation sessions.
The witness told the court she believed the lawyers represented her interests because they appeared alongside the accused persons during the investigations.
However, Mr Atta Akyea denied representing the witness during interrogations and challenged her assertions in court.
The court overruled an objection by Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney-General, who argued that defence counsel appeared to be testifying from the Bar.
Donkor said during one of the interactions before interrogation, Adu-Boahene allegedly advised her to answer questions by saying she did not remember or did not know whenever necessary because “they were going to court.”
The witness said she later became uncomfortable with the legal representation arrangement because she felt the lawyers were more interested in defending the accused persons than protecting her interests.
She said she eventually sought a new lawyer after raising concerns openly in court.
She admitted that Advantage Solutions Limited was an existing company before she joined it and that the company regularly paid salaries and pension contributions for staff.
She confirmed that she processed some salary and pension payments and coordinated with pension administrators regarding Tier Two and Tier Three contributions.
An attempt by the defence to tender email correspondence relating to pension payments to establish the legitimacy of the company was rejected by the court after an objection from the prosecution.
The Deputy Attorney-General argued that the emails were unrelated to the charges before the court and concerned events occurring years after the transactions under investigation.
The court adjourned proceedings to May 13, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
GNA
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
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Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong