The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has begun plea-bargaining discussions with the Attorney-General regarding an ongoing criminal case alleging GH¢14.3 million in fraud against the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank).
Court documents filed at the Accra High Court on Thursday, June 11, 2026, indicate that Chairman Wontumi’s legal team formally requested the commencement of plea negotiations. The notification was submitted by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai under Docket No. CR/0529/2026.
According to a writ filed at the court and signed by the Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, wrote to the Attorney-General on June 5, 2026, seeking a negotiated settlement under Ghana’s plea bargaining framework as provided for under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial alongside Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is currently on the run, and Wontumi Farms Limited.
The three accused persons face four charges, namely defrauding by false pretences, authoring a forged document, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
The prosecution alleges that in 2018, Wontumi Farms Limited secured approximately GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank after applying for a GH¢19 million loan facility intended to finance a large-scale agricultural project.
According to prosecutors, the company presented documents claiming it had acquired a 100,000-acre parcel of land for the proposed farming venture. However, investigations allegedly uncovered inconsistencies in some of the documents submitted to support the loan application.
One of the documents in question is said to be a board resolution dated January 23, 2018, which referred to a resolution purportedly passed on December 9, 2017. Prosecutors argue that this raises questions about the authenticity of the document because the company was not incorporated until December 14, 2017.
The prosecution further contends that despite the release of the funds, no farming operations were undertaken, no agricultural equipment was purchased, and no workers were employed for the project.
Investigators also allege that a document presented as evidence of machinery purchases was forged.
In addition, prosecutors claim that the actions of the accused persons resulted in a financial loss exceeding GH¢30 million to Exim Bank, with portions of the funds allegedly diverted into personal and unrelated business activities.
Chairman Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all charges when he first appeared before the court on May 18, 2026.
The case has been adjourned to June 18, 2026, for a Case Management Conference, where the court is expected to receive updates on the plea negotiation process.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi is also facing a separate criminal trial involving alleged illegal mining activities. In that case, he is being prosecuted alongside Akonta Mining Limited and company director Kwame Antwi, with judgment expected on July 3, 2026.
The Attorney-General’s office has yet to issue any public comment beyond the court filing. The outcome of the plea negotiations and the next steps in the Exim Bank case are expected to become clearer when proceedings resume later this month. :::
The key individuals mentioned are Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, Justice Srem-Sai, and Andy Appiah-Kubi. The case centres on alleged losses to Ghana Export-Import Bank.
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