Wontumi seeks plea deal in GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud trial

The criminal trial involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has taken a new turn after he moved for a plea bargain in the EXIM Bank fraud case.

A court filing from the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice sighted by GhanaWeb on June 11, 2026, confirms that Wontumi, through his lawyer, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi, wrote to the Attorney General seeking plea negotiations over the charges against him.

Exim Bank Controversy: Wontumi reportedly tried to clear alleged debt

The notice, filed on June 11, 2026, indicates that the request was made on June 5, 2026, under Section 162C(3) of Act 30.

The document, titled “Notification of Commencement of Plea Negotiation,” was signed by the Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai.

It stated that the 1st accused person in the case had officially requested to begin plea discussions in relation to the ongoing trial.

“WE HEREBY NOTIFY the honourable Court that the 1st Accused Person herein has, through his counsel, MR. ANDY APPIAH-KUBI, ESQ., in a letter dated June 5, 2026, to the Honourable Attorney-General, made a request to initiate a plea negotiation in respect of the charges in this trial,” the statement read.

The filing also listed the accused persons as Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (1st accused), Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is at large (2nd accused), and Wontumi Farms Limited (3rd accused).

The matter is before the High Court of Justice in Accra under docket number CR/0529/2026.

About the EXIM Bank case

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, in December 2025, revealed that investigations into the Wontumi Farms loan arrangement established that Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, failed to purchase any equipment required under the terms of the facility, despite funds being disbursed for that purpose.

According to the Attorney General, the loan agreement required that all equipment purchased with the funds be registered in the joint names of Exim Bank and Wontumi Farms Limited.

However, investigations showed that no such equipment was acquired, making joint registration impossible.

Speaking during the Government Accountability Series on December 22, 2025, Dr Ayine disclosed that all equipment Bernard Antwi Boasiako claimed to have purchased could not be traced.

Investigators further established that although Chairman Wontumi, under Wontumi Farms, submitted receipts to Exim Bank in support of the alleged purchases, the documents were forged.

"In the face of the evidence gathered in this investigation thoroughly conducted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), we have made the decision to prosecute Wontumi Farms and its directors for defrauding by fraud pretenses, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state in the sum of GH¢24,255,735. This figure represents the principal sum plus the interest accrued so far," he stated.

The Attorney General said that during interrogation, Chairman Wontumi reportedly claimed he had purchased what he described as “secondhand brand new” equipment and insisted that all receipts and related documentation had been submitted to the bank.

Forged Receipts, Missing Equipment: AG details Wontumi Farms-Exim Bank loan case

However, the Ghana Exim Bank has denied receiving any valid documents covering the purchase of the required equipment from either Wontumi Farms Limited or Bernard Antwi Boasiako.

According to the AG, the bank noted that the only documents submitted in relation to the equipment were the forged receipts identified during investigations.

MAG/VPO

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