The Office of the Attorney-General has rejected claims that prosecutors deliberately failed to appear in court on Wednesday, September 2, in the trial involving former National Signals Bureau Director-General, Kwabena Adu-Boahene.

The prosecution's absence came on a day scheduled for the conclusion of cross-examination in the case concerning the procurement of cybersecurity software.

Attorney-General's Press Secretary, Benjamin Alpha Aidoo, described the account presented by the defence as a misleading portrayal of the circumstances surrounding the prosecution team's absence.

According to him, the failure of the prosecution to appear before the High Court was not intentional but resulted from events beyond the team's control.

Mr Aidoo said the Attorney-General's Office remains committed to ensuring that the trial proceeds fairly and without unnecessary delays.

He explained that during proceedings on Tuesday, September 1, Mr Adu-Boahene's lawyer, Samuel Atta Akyea, requested an additional day to complete his cross-examination.

Following discussions between Mr Atta Akyea and the Deputy Attorney-General, the parties agreed to use Wednesday, September 2, to conclude the exercise.

However, the Deputy Attorney-General also had to appear before the Supreme Court for the hearing of a review application filed by Ofoase-Ayirebi MP, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, which had been scheduled for 9:00 a.m. that same day.

The prosecution subsequently asked the High Court to fix the Adu-Boahene case for 11:30 a.m., anticipating that the Supreme Court proceedings would have ended by then.

That expectation, however, did not materialise.

According to the Attorney-General's Office, the Supreme Court began sitting at 10:00 a.m. and only concluded the matter at about 1:20 p.m.

In the absence of the prosecution team at the High Court, the judge adjourned the case to Tuesday, September 8, for the final stage of the cross-examination.

Mr Aidoo said the Deputy Attorney-General had agreed to the 11:30 a.m. hearing on the understanding that the Supreme Court matter would be concluded by approximately 11:00 a.m.

He said that when it became clear that the Supreme Court proceedings would continue beyond that time, it was not feasible to secure another lawyer to represent the prosecution at the High Court at such short notice, as members of the legal team already had prior professional commitments.

The Attorney-General's Office has therefore dismissed suggestions that the prosecution intentionally absented itself from the proceedings or was attempting to delay the case.

“The Prosecution is fully committed to closing its case as early as the Court’s timelines allow and will be in Court on Tuesday for the final day of cross examination,” Mr Aidoo said.

The trial involves Mr Adu-Boahene, his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng, and two other accused persons.

They are facing charges connected to the alleged diversion of public funds in the acquisition of cybersecurity software.

Mr Adu-Boahene has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.