Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has formally requested plea negotiations with the Attorney-General in his ongoing criminal trial over an alleged fraudulent loan transaction involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank).
The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, on Thursday, June 11, 2026, filed a Notification of Commencement of Plea Negotiation at the Accra High Court under Docket No. CR/0529/2026.
According to court documents, Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, wrote to the Attorney-General on June 5, requesting the initiation of plea negotiations regarding the charges before the court.
The notification was filed under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), which regulates plea bargaining in Ghana’s criminal justice system.
The case lists Chairman Wontumi as the first accused, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako as the second accused, and Wontumi Farms Limited as the third accused. Prosecutors say Thomas Antwi-Boasiako is currently at large.
The accused persons face four charges: defrauding by false pretence, authoring a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution.
According to the charge sheet dated May 15, 2026, the accused allegedly obtained about GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank in 2018 for a large-scale farming project.
The prosecution claims Wontumi Farms Limited applied for a GH¢19 million loan facility and submitted documents indicating that it had secured 100,000 acres of land for the project.
Investigators further allege that a board resolution letter submitted to support the loan application contained inconsistencies. The document was dated January 23, 2018, but referenced a resolution purportedly passed on December 9, 2017—four days before the company was incorporated on December 14, 2017.
Prosecutors also contend that despite receiving approximately GH¢14.3 million, the company did not undertake any farming activities, purchase machinery, or employ workers for the project.
The charge sheet further alleges that a document presented as proof of payment for farming equipment was falsified.
In the fourth count, prosecutors accuse Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako and Wontumi Farms Limited of intentionally causing financial loss to Exim Bank exceeding GH¢30 million.
The prosecution alleges that substantial portions of the funds were diverted for personal use and unrelated business investments rather than the farming project for which the loan was granted.
Chairman Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all charges when he first appeared before the court on May 18, 2026.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to June 18, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
The Exim Bank case is one of two criminal matters currently involving Chairman Wontumi.
He is also standing trial alongside Akonta Mining Limited and company director Kwame Antwi in a separate case concerning alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi.
The Accra High Court is expected to deliver judgment in that matter on July 3, 2026.
The Attorney-General’s Department has not issued any public statement beyond the court filing. Further developments in the Exim Bank case are expected when proceedings resume on June 18.
