The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has formally requested a plea negotiation with the Attorney-General in connection with his ongoing criminal trial over an alleged GH¢14.3 million loan fraud involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank).
The development was disclosed in a Notification of Commencement of Plea Negotiation filed at the Accra High Court on Thursday, June 11, 2026, by the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, under Docket No. CR/0529/2026.
According to the court filing, counsel for Chairman Wontumi, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, wrote to the Attorney-General on June 5, 2026, requesting the commencement of plea negotiations regarding the charges before the court.
The notification was filed pursuant to Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), which governs plea bargaining procedures within Ghana’s criminal justice system.
Charges Before the Court
The case names Chairman Wontumi as the first accused, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is currently at large, as the second accused, and Wontumi Farms Limited as the third accused.
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 prosecution alleges that the accused secured approximately GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank in 2018 under the pretext of establishing a large-scale farming project.
Prosecutors contend that Wontumi Farms Limited applied for a GH¢19 million loan facility and submitted documents indicating that the company had acquired a 100,000-acre parcel of land for the proposed agricultural venture.
The prosecution further alleges that one of the documents presented as a board resolution was dated January 23, 2018, but referenced a resolution purportedly passed on December 9, 2017—four days before the company was officially incorporated on December 14, 2017.
According to the state, although approximately GH¢14.3 million was disbursed for the project, no farming activities were undertaken, no agricultural machinery was procured and no workers were employed.
The prosecution also claims that documentation submitted as evidence of equipment purchases was falsified.
Alleged Financial Loss
Under the fourth count, prosecutors allege that Chairman Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako and Wontumi Farms Limited intentionally caused financial loss exceeding GH¢30 million to the Ghana Export-Import Bank.
The state further claims that substantial portions of the funds were diverted for personal use and invested in ventures unrelated to the farming project for which the loan was obtained.
Chairman Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all four charges when he first appeared before the court on May 18, 2026.
The case was subsequently adjourned to June 18, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
Separate Illegal Mining Trial
The Exim Bank case is one of two active criminal proceedings involving the NPP regional chairman.
Chairman Wontumi, together with Akonta Mining Limited and company director Kwame Antwi, is also standing trial before the Accra High Court in a separate case involving alleged illegal mining activities at Samreboi.
Judgment in that matter has been scheduled for July 3, 2026.
The Attorney-General’s Department has not issued any public statement on the plea negotiation request beyond the notification filed before the court.
Further developments in the Exim Bank case are expected when proceedings resume on June 18, 2026.
