The Accra High Court has adjourned plea bargain negotiations in the GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud case involving New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to August 27, 2026.
The adjournment followed a request by Wontumi’s new lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, who asked the court for more time to conclude ongoing discussions with prosecutors.
New Lawyer Seeks More Time
Appearing before the court on Monday, July 27, Mr Atta Akyea, who recently took over Wontumi’s defence after the withdrawal of Andy Appiah-Kubi, requested that the case be adjourned until October.
However, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai opposed the lengthy delay. Instead, he urged the court to grant a 30-day adjournment, saying the plea negotiations had already reached an advanced stage.
“We have received an offer, and we have made a counter-offer, which we were supposed to conclude last week before the accused person’s conviction in another matter derailed the negotiation,” Dr Srem-Sai told the court.
Prosecution Wants Negotiations Completed
Dr. Srem-Sai explained that although the law allows plea bargain discussions to continue alongside criminal proceedings, the prosecution preferred to pause parts of the trial to allow both parties to conclude the negotiations.
He also said the State wanted to delay filing its disclosures to avoid affecting the ongoing discussions.
“In order not to let disclosures, which we are yet to do, prejudice the plea negotiations, which indeed are far advanced, we would pray that My Lady accepts our waiver of the right to continue with proceedings and rather take a short adjournment to attempt concluding the negotiations before being directed to file our disclosures,” he submitted.
Mr. Atta Akyea agreed with the prosecution’s position but maintained that more time was needed. He expressed optimism that the discussions could lead to the charges being withdrawn.
Court Declines Indefinite Suspension
Presiding judge Justice Halima Abdul-Alawa declined to halt the proceedings indefinitely. Instead, she ruled that the case would continue in line with the law while allowing room for the plea bargain process.
“I want to stay within Section 152(c)(5). I will adjourn with the view that the case is proceeding to trial without prejudice to the plea bargain,” the judge ruled.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to August 27 for further directions.
Charges Against Wontumi
Wontumi and his co-accused, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, have pleaded not guilty to four charges. They are accused of defrauding by false pretence, forgery, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss of more than GH¢30 million to the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).
According to the prosecution, the two allegedly secured GH¢14.3 million from EXIM Bank through Wontumi Farms Limited between 2018 and 2022 using a farming project that was never carried out. Prosecutors further allege that Wontumi submitted a forged receipt to support an application for an additional GH¢4 million loan facility.
Separate Illegal Mining Conviction
Monday’s court appearance came one week after Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment with hard labour in a separate illegal mining case involving a concession at Samreboi.
He was brought to court under heavy prison security and remains in custody at Nsawam Prison while his legal team prepares to appeal the conviction.
