Lawyers for the former Director-General of the National Signal Bureau, Kwabena Adu Boahene, have applied to the High Court Human Right Division to grant bail to their client and his wife, Angela Boateng, arguing that the bail terms imposed by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) are “burdensome.”
The application, filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court on March 25, lists EOCO and the Attorney-General as the 1st and 2nd respondents, respectively.
Led by Samuel Atta Akyea, the legal team claims that EOCO’s bail conditions are unreasonable and aimed at keeping the couple in custody beyond the constitutionally mandated 48-hour period.
The affidavit highlighted the bail terms imposed on the couple:
The 1st Applicant (Kwabena Adu Boahene) is to post bail in the sum of GH¢120 million, to be justified.
The 2nd Applicant (Angela Boateng) is to post bail in the sum of GH¢80 million, also to be justified.
Additionally, Mr. Atta Akyea accused EOCO of infringing on his clients’ constitutional rights by restricting their access to legal counsel.
He alleged that EOCO officers refused to allow private consultations with the couple, insisting that lawyer-client interactions take place at the counter of the cells under surveillance.
“The officers of the 1st Respondent would not release the Applicants from the EOCO cells to sit with me to conduct my professional work. The officers insisted that I should engage the Applicants at the counter of the cells while they listened and recorded the lawyer-client interaction,” Mr. Atta Akyea told the court.
The couple’s arrest stems from allegations of unexplained wealth. At a press conference on March 24, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Dr. Dominic Ayine accused Mr. Adu Boahene and his wife of amassing wealth through suspicious means, with funds allegedly traced to Advantage Solutions Limited, BNC Communications Bureau Limited, and other companies under investigation.
“Investigations have established that money, mostly proceeds of crime, from Advantage Solutions Limited and BNC Communications Bureau Limited and other similar sources have been transmitted under very suspicious circumstances through the bank accounts of these companies,” Dr. Ayine revealed.
He further warned individuals linked to the couple’s companies against attempting to move assets, vowing that the authorities would track and prosecute anyone involved.
In response, Mr. Atta Akyea insisted that his clients are ready to comply with reasonable bail terms and have responsible individuals willing to stand as sureties.
“The Applicants are well-meaning Ghanaian couple and are properly circumstanced in society. They have responsible individuals who are ready to stand as sureties for their bail. In the premises, the Applicants pray the court for bail pending investigations,” Mr. Atta Akyea pleaded.
