Exim Bank fraud case: Wontumi initiates plea negotiations with Attorney-General
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has initiated a plea bargain process with the Attorney-General in the criminal case in which he and two others have been accused of defrauding the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) of GH¢14.3 million.
The Attorney-General's Office informed the High Court in Accra about Wontumi's application in a filing dated June 11, 2026, stating that he had commenced steps towards a plea agreement.
According to the filing, the request was made through Chairman Wontumi's lawyer, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, in a letter dated June 5, 2026, submitted under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
A notice signed by the Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, and addressed to the Registrar of the High Court in Accra was subsequently served on the accused persons and their lawyers.
Chairman Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is reported to be at large, and Wontumi Farms Limited are facing four charges, namely defrauding by false pretence, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution.
According to the charge sheet filed on May 15, 2026, the accused allegedly obtained GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank in 2018 after applying for a facility of GH¢18.7 million on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited for a large-scale farming project.
The prosecution alleges that no farming activities were undertaken, no machinery was purchased and no workers were employed.
It further alleges that a document presented as evidence of the purchase of farming equipment was forged.
The charge sheet also accuses the three defendants of causing financial loss to Exim Bank exceeding GH¢30 million in connection with the transaction.
Chairman Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all four charges when he appeared before the Accra High Court on May 18, 2026.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to June 18, 2026, for a case management conference and directed the prosecution to file its disclosures before the hearing.
The move to pursue plea negotiations follows earlier attempts to resolve the matter.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, previously indicated that proposals had been submitted to his office in relation to the case but were not accepted.
Dr Ayine said any plea agreement would have to be pursued through the legal process and under the supervision of a competent court.
