The Accra High Court on Friday, October 17, 2025, refused an application by lawyers for Kwabena Adu Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), to stay his criminal trial while an appeal of an earlier ruling runs its course.

The defence had asked the court to suspend proceedings pending the determination of an appeal over a prior decision denying them access to certain disclosure material.

The High Court declined the defence’s application for a stay of proceedings. That means the trial will continue while the appeal is heard; the appeal will not automatically halt the prosecution.

Why the defence wanted the stay

The defence team, led by Samuel Atta-Akyea, appealed a previous High Court ruling that denied them access to additional documents they say are material and exculpatory. They argued that without those documents, their clients could not get a fair trial and therefore asked the court to stay the ongoing criminal proceedings pending the appeal. Coverage of the disclosure dispute and the stay request has featured in earlier hearings.

What the prosecution said

The state, led in court by the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the stay.

Prosecutors argued the defence had not established exceptional circumstances justifying a halt and that the requested materials were either irrelevant or not held by the prosecution, points that underpinned the earlier refusal to order further disclosure.

AG withdrew one co-accused’s charges to secure testimony

In a significant related development this week, the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, withdrew charges against Mildred Donkor, the third accused, under Section 59 of Act 30, so she can appear as a prosecution witness.

Read Also: Adu-Boahene trial: AG drops charges against third accused

The notice, filed at the High Court on October 15, says Donkor will testify about transactions and her relationship with Adu-Boahene and others. This is likely to strengthen the prosecution’s case in the coming hearings.

Case background

Adu-Boahene and three others face multiple counts, including stealing, money laundering (alleged GH¢49.1 million), willfully causing financial loss to the state, and abuse of public office. Co-accused include his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, Advantage Solutions Limited, and previously-charged Mildred Donkor (now expected to be a state witness).

The prosecution alleges funds were diverted from state accounts to private entities.