The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has revealed that Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, allegedly pressured Ghana Exim Bank to release funds intended for farm workers who, investigations later confirmed, did not exist.
Providing updates on high-profile investigations during the Government Accountability Series on December 22, 2025, the Attorney General said Wontumi Farms Limited was required to submit a database of farmhands to enable electronic salary payments under the Mining Alternative Livelihoods Initiative under the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.
BREAKING: AG to prosecute Chairman Wontumi over alleged GH¢24 million loss to the state
To facilitate this, Ghana Exim Bank had contracted Eban Capital Limited to create a biometric payment platform for workers slated to be employed on a maize farm at Asare Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region.
LIVESTREAMED: Dr Ayine addresses Ghanaians on details of high profile corruption case
However, Dr Ayine disclosed that Wontumi Farms failed to provide the database because “there were no farmers working on the land.” Despite this, Chairman Wontumi allegedly insisted that GH¢400,000 intended for salaries be paid directly to the company in cash.
“He claimed the youth involved in illegal mining were not used to electronic payment systems and preferred cash,” the Attorney General said.
However, the AG said investigations ultimately revealed that no farming activities took place and no workers were engaged, confirming that the loan facility had been obtained under false pretences.
The Attorney General stated that the government will prosecute Wontumi Farms and its directors for allegedly defrauding Exim Bank, committing forgery, and causing a financial loss to the state exceeding GH¢24 million.
He further disclosed that investigations revealed Wontumi Farms secured a GH¢4 million loan from Exim Bank using forged documentation.
Attorney General Dr Ayine announces charges in high-profile corruption case
JKB/MA
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