Adu-Boahene, wife given six days to produce lawyer in NSB trial

The Accra High Court has given former National Signals Bureau Director-General, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, six days to ensure that their lawyers appear in court for the continuation of their trial.

Justice Francis Ato Achibonga issued the directive after defence lawyers failed to appear on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, when the case was called.

The court warned that if counsel fail to appear at the next sitting, the accused persons may have to conduct the cross-examination themselves or the prosecution’s witness may be discharged for the case to proceed.

Mr Adu-Boahene told the court that he did not know the whereabouts of his lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea.

He said he was also unsure whether Mr Atta Akyea was in the jurisdiction and pleaded with the court to give them time to contact their lawyers.

Mr Atta Akyea had earlier petitioned the Chief Justice on Wednesday, August 5, asking for the withdrawal of the warrant authorising the court to sit during the legal vacation.

He cited the unavailability of the defence lawyers during the vacation period.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, however, told the court that he had spoken with Mr Atta Akyea.

According to him, counsel was clear that he would not attend proceedings during the legal vacation because he had written to the Chief Justice and the Ghana Bar Association.

“I've spoken with counsel who was categorical that he had written to the CJ and GBA that he will exercise his alleged right to not attend court proceedings during the vacation,” Dr Srem-Sai said.

The Deputy Attorney-General argued that the power to determine whether court proceedings should take place during the legal vacation rests with the Chief Justice, subject to the trial judge’s control of proceedings in court.

He therefore urged the court to proceed with the case.

Justice Achibonga declined to continue the trial in the absence of defence counsel.

The judge said it would be unfair to the accused persons for the matter to proceed without their lawyers present.

He therefore directed Mr Adu-Boahene and his wife to ensure that their lawyers appear within six days.

The court cautioned that if the lawyers fail to appear, the accused persons may be required to continue the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness themselves.

Alternatively, the witness may be discharged and the case allowed to move forward.

The matter was adjourned to August 17, 2026.

Mr Adu-Boahene and Angela Adjei Boateng are standing trial on charges including stealing, causing financial loss to the State and money laundering.