Agric Ministry, COCOBOD documents reveal US$15 million & GHC44 million deals
Claims by Accra-based Asaase Radio that Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the embattled former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), had extensive business dealings with COCOBOD during Dr. Stephen Opuni’s tenure as CEO, have been proven false.
Documents obtained by The Herald reveal that Asaase Radio’s attempt to link Dr. Opuni to Adu-Boahene’s financial dealings was an effort to distract from his controversial transactions at NSB and to repair his public image.
No COCOBOD Contracts Under Opuni’s Tenure
According to official records, the first time Adu-Boahene’s Glofert Limited secured a contract with COCOBOD was in 2024—long after Dr. Opuni had left office and was facing trial under the Akufo-Addo government.
The fertiliser supply contract, awarded in October 2024, was approved by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA)and involved supplying 300,000 bags of 50kg granular fertiliser (Adikanfo Cocoa Fertiliser) at a total cost of $15.75 million.
Contrary to Asaase Radio’s claims, Glofert Limited was established under the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) programme and was inaugurated by then-Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in August 2019.
Government Contracts and Financial Dealings
Glofert Limited went on to secure multiple government contracts, including:
- A December 2023 contract under the Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II (PFJ 2.0) programme to supply 5,000 metric tonnes of urea at a cost of GHS43.9 million.
- Several single-source procurement contracts from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
Documents show that Glofert Limited was only registered as a VAT collection agent in November 2018, further discrediting Asaase Radio’s assertions that it had done business with COCOBOD under Dr. Opuni’s leadership.
Adu-Boahene’s Alleged Financial Misconduct
Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has accused Adu-Boahene of embezzling millions of dollars intended for a cyber defence project, allegedly diverting funds into real estate investments in Ghana and abroad.
Investigations allege that he used a private company, secretly operated alongside his wife, to siphon funds from government contracts, amassing significant personal wealth.
Despite these allegations, Asaase Radio, through Editor Wilberforce Asare, sought to paint Adu-Boahene as a successful businessman, claiming he owns multiple businesses in Ghana and abroad, including Glofert Limited—which it falsely described as “the biggest fertiliser company in West Africa”.
The $7 Million Cyber Defence Scandal
At a press conference on Monday, March 24, 2025, Attorney-General Dr. Ayine detailed financial misconductinvolving a $7 million cyber defence contract signed between Ghana’s National Security and Israeli firm RLC Holdings Limited.
In his capacity as Director of the NSB, Adu-Boahene signed the contract on January 30, 2020, but within a week, he allegedly transferred GHS27.1 million (approximately $5.3 million) from NSB’s Fidelity Bank account to a private BNC account at UMB—claiming it was for software payments.
Authorities suspect this diversion of funds has compromised Ghana’s cybersecurity infrastructure, delaying vital security measures needed to protect national data.
Legal Proceedings to Begin
With legal action expected soon, Dr. Ayine assured that the government is committed to holding officials accountablefor financial mismanagement.
The case of Kwabena Adu-Boahene now raises concerns over financial accountability in Ghana’s security and procurement sectors, particularly the ease with which public funds were allegedly diverted under his leadership at the NSB.
