Ghana Water Limited probes $1.3 million internet contract linked to former security boss
By Ernest Afram
The Acting Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, has revealed details of a controversial $1.3 million monthly internet service contract believed to have been manipulated to siphon public funds into a personal account linked to a former senior security official.
Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, is currently in the custody of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). He faces allegations of orchestrating a scheme that diverted about $1.3 million every month from GWL over several years.
Mr. Mutawakilu explained that the payments stemmed from a 2018 contract between Ghana Water and National Security to provide internet and cybersecurity services to the state utility company.
Initially, the deal was seen as a cost-effective solution for GWL’s internet needs. Before the contract, GWL relied on private providers to connect its head office, regional branches, and district offices.
“When the government under Nana Addo installed this internet and fiber optic service, it was decided to extend it not only to Ghana Water but also to other government agencies,” Mr. Mutawakilu said.
Under the agreement, National Security was to provide internet connectivity and cybersecurity services, while GWL was to pay $1.3 million monthly in two equal installments of $650,000 through standing orders.
Payments began in 2018 and continued until April 2025, when the arrangement was halted. However, investigations revealed the payments were not going to National Security.
“To the best of Ghana Water’s knowledge, we were paying National Security, but it turned out the account was different — with a name strikingly similar to National Security,” Mr. Mutawakilu stated.
He added that the fraudulent account details were allegedly provided by Mr. Adu-Boahene, who led the deal as Director-General of the National Signals Bureau.
The suspicious nature of the deal became clear when internal and external audits failed to find a copy of the original contract. “I have searched for the agreement but have not found it. Someone offered to provide it, but even the National Insurance Board (NIB) has no record,” Mr. Mutawakilu said.
