Wontumi seeks plea bargain in Exim Bank alleged loan fraud case

The Exim bank alleged loan fraud case, currently before the Accra High Court, has taken a new turn as Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has requested a plea bargain.

The Office of the Attorney-General has formally notified the High Court of the request in a notification dated June 11, 2026.

According to the Prosecutions Division of the Attorney-General’s Department, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the first accused person, has expressed interest in pursuing a plea negotiation process in relation to the charges against him through his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi.

The court document, filed under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), revealed that the request was conveyed to the Attorney-General in a letter dated June 5, 2026.

The case, which is before the High Court in Accra, lists Bernard Antwi-Boasiako as the first accused person, with Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is at large, and Wontumi Farms Limited as other accused persons. The Attorney-General is the prosecuting party in the case.

The notification was signed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai on behalf of the Attorney-General and submitted to the court registry for the attention of the presiding judge.

Background

Chairman Wontumi has been hauled before the court for the offenses of defrauding by false pretences, causing financial loss to a public body, money laundering and authoring a forged document in relation to fraudulently acquiring a GHC14.3 million loan using his farming company from the Ghana Export-Import Bank between 2018 and 2022.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Attorney-General’s Department, prosecutors allege that Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, in 2018, obtained GH¢14,302,000 from EXIM Bank by false pretences.

The prosecution further alleges that Chairman Wontumi used a forged receipt, knowing it was not genuine, to obtain an additional GH¢4 million from the bank.

Court documents state that the alleged forged receipt was presented to officials of EXIM Bank as proof of payment in support of the transaction.

Under the money laundering charge, prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2022, Chairman Wontumi took possession of part of the GH¢14.302 million received by Wontumi Farms Limited while allegedly knowing the funds had been acquired through fraudulent means.

The prosecution also accuses Chairman Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, and Wontumi Farms Limited of intentionally causing financial loss exceeding GH¢30 million to EXIM Bank in the course of the business transaction.

Further proceedings are expected as the court considers the notification and the parties engage in the plea negotiation process.