Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, has disclosed the arrest of Kwabena Adu Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), over a $7 million cyber defense contract.
Why it matters
The funds were meant to bolster Ghana’s cybersecurity infrastructure, a critical defense against digital threats.
Instead, they were allegedly funneled into Boahene’s private account.
Driving the news
- Ayine revealed at a press conference on Monday, March 24, that Boahene signed a contract in 2020 with Israeli firm RLC Holdings Limited to procure cybersecurity software for Ghana.
- Days later, he transferred an initial GHC 27.1 million (about $4.7 million) from the NSB’s Fidelity Bank account to a private BNC account at UMB, allegedly for personal use.
- The full contract, valued at $7 million, was intended to strengthen Ghana’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats, data breaches, and espionage.
What they’re saying
- Ayine described the financial misconduct as a “blatant abuse of public trust” and confirmed that legal proceedings were underway.
What’s next
Authorities have not disclosed further details on Boahene’s legal charges, but his arrest signals a broader crackdown on financial mismanagement in government agencies.
