AG’s remarks on Adu-Boahene ‘unfair and prejudicial – Lawyers

Lawyers representing Kwabena Adu Boahene, former Director General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, have accused Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine of violating their clients’ rights by publicly declaring them guilty before trial.

The accusation follows a March 24 press conference where Dr. Ayine linked Adu Boahene’s arrest to an alleged $7 million fraud involving a cybersecurity contract.

According to the Attorney General, funds meant for a national cyber defense system to combat digital threats were allegedly diverted into private accounts.

In a strongly worded statement, the legal firm Zoe, Akyea & Co. condemned the Attorney General’s remarks, describing them as a “prejudicial press engagement.” The lawyers argued that his comments amounted to a public conviction while investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) were still ongoing.

They stressed that due process must be followed before public scrutiny, stating:

“The power to investigate any Ghanaian for alleged criminal offenses has no party colours.

“It is a painstaking exercise to ensure that the rule of law is observed and that persons with material stakes are not unfairly targeted by those who wield the powers of the State.”

The statement further emphasized the need for impartiality in criminal investigations:

“All professional investigations, and not politically motivated ones, must be devoid of razzmatazz and propaganda. The suspect, who is the subject of the investigation, must first be charged before he is subjected to public trial—so that if he is innocent, he is not destroyed by prejudicial attacks and trial propaganda before his day in court. These considerations must guide our jurisprudence.”

The lawyers maintain that the Attorney General’s comments undermine the principle of fair trial and have the potential to bias public perception against their clients.