Lawyers for Kwabena Adu Boahene, a former Director of the National Signal Bureau (NSB), and his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, have accused Ghana’s Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, of prejudicing an ongoing investigation against their clients by making public statements that, they argue, amount to a trial in the media.
In a statement issued, the legal team from ZOE, AKYEA & Co. criticised the Attorney-General’s handling of the case, describing his recent press conference as a deliberate attempt to “poison” public perception against their clients. They argued that the state’s chief legal officer had overstepped his professional boundaries by pronouncing their clients guilty before any formal charges had been brought against them.
“The Attorney-General has become the press persecutor of our clients, a judge in his own court, while simultaneously asserting that he is still investigating the case,” the lawyers said.
Mr. Boahene, who served as NSB Director under the previous administration was arrested at Kotoka International Airport upon his return from the United Kingdom on March 20. His lawyers dismissed claims that he had travelled in economy class to evade detection, insisting he flew business class. They also questioned why someone allegedly involved in wrongdoing would voluntarily return through a major airport instead of using alternative routes.
The following day, his wife, Angela, was also taken into custody when she visited the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to check on her husband. According to their lawyers, her arrest was unwarranted and reinforced what they described as a politically motivated attempt to frame their clients.
The legal team further alleged that their clients had been denied access to legal counsel in violation of their constitutional rights, stating that EOCO officials had insisted on monitoring lawyer-client interactions during interrogations. They also accused the Attorney-General of ignoring legal provisions that prevent suspects from being detained beyond 48 hours without bail.
“The reset version of the rule of law is playing out, where citizens can be held in custody, denied counsel, and publicly humiliated before evidence is even presented,” they said.
The lawyers signalled their intention to pursue legal action against what they described as a violation of their clients’ fundamental rights, adding that the Attorney-General’s handling of the case amounted to persecution rather than prosecution.
