The jail time Wontumi might get if his plea bargaining in Exim Bank case fails

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), has requested a plea bargain — a formal negotiation between the prosecution and defence — in his ongoing criminal trial in the Exim Bank fraud case.

The request, which is backed by Section 162C(3) of Act 30, has been granted by the court, which has given the state and Wontumi up to July 18, 2026, to reach a deal.

Even though the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP initially pleaded that he was not guilty of any of the charges the state had levelled against him, he now wants to cut a deal with the state for the case to be dropped.

So, what are the crimes Wontumi has been accused of in the Exim Bank case, and what punishment would they attract in the event that his plea bargain fails and he is found guilty?

About the case:

Wontumi and two others, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako (reportedly at large) and Wontumi Farms Limited, are facing four charges: 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 GH¢18.7 million facility 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 claims that a document presented as proof of the purchase of farming equipment was forged, resulting in financial loss to the bank exceeding GH¢30 million.

Wontumi Exim Bank Case: Court clears path for plea bargain negotiations

The specific charges against Wontumi are:

1. Defrauding by false pretence in contravention of Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

2. Uttering a forged document (sometimes reported as forgery/uttering a forged document) in contravention of Section 169 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

3. Money laundering in contravention of Section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).



4. Intentionally causing financial loss to a public body/institution in contravention of Section 179A(3)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Expected jail time or fines for the various charges

1. Defrauding by false pretence is a second-degree felony and is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment.

2. Uttering a forged document is also a second-degree felony, carrying up to 10 years' imprisonment.

3. Money laundering carries jail terms ranging from 12 months up to 10 years, or both a fine and imprisonment.

4. Intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.

So, in the event that Wontumi’s plea bargain fails and he is convicted on all four charges, the court would sentence him separately on each count and then decide whether the sentences run concurrently or consecutively.

If he is to serve the charges concurrently, he is likely to receive the maximum sentence of 10 years in jail. However, if the judge decides that the charges should be served consecutively, he may get a maximum jail term of 40 years.

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