By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, July 6, GNA – Mr Frank Marshall Cromwell, the fourth prosecution witness in the trial of former National Signals Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene, has defended the integrity of EOCO’s investigations into the alleged diversion of GH¢49.1 million in public funds.
Mr Cromwell, an investigator with EOCO, maintained under cross-examination that the investigation was guided by verified evidence and relevant documents.
He rejected suggestions that investigators ignored material lines of enquiry favourable to the accused persons.
The witness was cross-examined by counsel for the accused persons, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, while Ms Esi Yankah, Principal State Attorney, represented the prosecution.
At the commencement of proceedings, the defence informed the court that all attachments to the witness statements intended to be tendered through the witness had been identified and disclosed to the prosecution.
The prosecution, led by Ms Yankah, said it was satisfied that all supplementary attachments intended to be relied upon had been made available.
This is , after which the court admitted into evidence the witness statements filed by Mr Cromwell on June 2, 2025, and a supplementary statement filed on June 18, 2025.
Mr Cromwell confirmed that his witness statements contained the findings and conclusions of the investigations conducted by EOCO.
When asked whether there were any material lines of enquiry that had not been pursued, the witness insisted that all relevant documents and exhibits obtained during the investigations had been handed over to the prosecution.
He further said that investigations established that Mr Adu-Boahene transferred GH¢49.1 million from a State account into other accounts and part of the funds was used for his personal benefit.
According to the investigator, evidence gathered showed that Mr Adu-Boahene, in his capacity as Director of the then Bureau of National Communications (BNC), transferred the funds from the State account to accounts under his control, benefiting himself and the wife Ms Angela Adjei-Boateng.
Mr Cromwell told the court that EOCO commenced investigations after receiving a tip-off alleging that GH¢49.1 million had been transferred from a National Security account to BNC Communications Bureau Limited at UMB Bank.
He said investigators subsequently requested records from several institutions, including Fidelity Bank and UMB Bank, as part of efforts to verify the allegations.
The witness, however, said he could not identify which specific document was the first received during the investigations because responses from institutions were received on different dates.
Mr Atta Akyea suggested that no document relating to the investigations had been received before March 24, 2025, but the witness disagreed, explaining that requests and responses were made at different times throughout the investigation.
The defence also referred to public comments allegedly made by the Attorney-General during a press conference, but Mr Cromwell said he could not comment on statements made outside the investigation.
“My focus was the investigations and nothing else,” the witness told the court.
The investigator rejected suggestions that EOCO had reached conclusions before gathering material facts, insisting that every conclusion reached was based on verified information and documentary evidence.
He told the court that investigators found it suspicious that funds transferred from the State account were moved into companies such as Advantage Solutions Limited and were subsequently withdrawn within short periods.
Mr Cromwell confirmed that EOCO maintains a diary of action in every investigation to record investigative steps, adding that such records ordinarily formed part of the duplicate docket submitted to the Attorney-General for advice.
When defence counsel pointed out that no diary of action appeared on the list of disclosed documents, the witness acknowledged that it had not been included in the disclosures before the court.
Mr Cromwell maintained that the focus of the probe was the alleged transfer of public funds by a politically exposed person for personal benefit not concerns of national security.
He said he did not interview the former National Security Coordinator or the current Minister of National Security because investigations centred on the movement of funds from the Bureau of National Communications account into accounts
The witness said investigations did not uncover any authorisation from the National Security Coordinator approving payments relating to purchases of Cybersecurity defence system from ISC Holdings.
The case was adjourned to July 7, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination.
GNA
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
[email protected]
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong