By Daniel Bampoe
A dramatic new chapter has emerged in the criminal prosecution of Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after he formally initiated plea negotiations with the Attorney-General in a high-profile case involving alleged fraud and financial loss to the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).
Court documents filed at the Accra High Court on June 11, 2026, reveal that Chairman Wontumi, through his lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, formally requested the commencement of plea negotiations with the Attorney-General’s Department.
The move was communicated to the court through a “Notification of Commencement of Plea Negotiation” signed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), as amended.
The filing marks a significant development in a case that has attracted widespread public attention due to the political prominence of the accused and the substantial sums of public money involved.
Plea bargaining under the criminal justice system allows an accused person to voluntarily negotiate with prosecutors before judgment is delivered. Such negotiations may result in reduced charges, the withdrawal of some counts, restitution arrangements, or a lighter sentence in exchange for an admission of responsibility. Any agreement reached, however, remains subject to approval by the court.
According to the Attorney-General’s notification, Appiah-Kubi wrote to the Attorney-General on June 5, 2026, requesting the initiation of plea discussions on behalf of his client.
The court filing does not disclose the specific terms being negotiated or whether the Attorney-General is inclined to accept any proposed agreement.
EXIM Bank Case
The criminal proceedings stem from investigations into a loan facility obtained by Wontumi Farms Limited from EXIM Bank in 2018 for what was presented as a large-scale commercial agricultural project.
The Attorney-General alleges that Wontumi Farms Limited applied for a GH¢19 million agricultural loan, representing that it had secured approximately 100,000 acres of land for a major farming venture.
Prosecutors claim that based on these representations, approximately GH¢14.3 million was disbursed by the state-owned financial institution.
However, investigations subsequently raised questions about the legitimacy of the documentation used to secure the facility.
According to the prosecution, one of the documents submitted as a board resolution contained serious irregularities. Prosecutors contend that the document was dated January 23, 2018, but referred to a board resolution purportedly passed on December 9, 2017—several days before Wontumi Farms Limited was officially incorporated on December 14, 2017.
State investigators further allege that despite the release of the funds, no meaningful farming activities were undertaken, no agricultural machinery was purchased, and no workers were employed as outlined in the loan proposal. Prosecutors also claim that documentation presented as proof of equipment purchases was falsified.
The Attorney-General’s Department has additionally alleged that substantial portions of the loan proceeds were diverted into personal expenditures and unrelated business ventures rather than being used for the intended agricultural project.
Four Serious Criminal Charges
Chairman Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako—who remains at large—and Wontumi Farms Limited are facing four criminal charges arising from the transaction.
The charges include defrauding by false pretence, authoring a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution.
According to the prosecution, the financial loss associated with the transaction now exceeds GH¢30 million when accrued obligations and related liabilities are taken into account.
The Attorney-General has maintained that the matter is not merely a contractual dispute or a failed business venture but rather a criminal case involving alleged deception and the misuse of public funds.
Not Guilty Plea And Parallel Mining Trial
When he first appeared before the court on May 18, 2026, Chairman Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 18, 2026, for a Case Management Conference, but the filing of the plea negotiation notice has now added a new dimension to the proceedings.
Legal experts note that the initiation of plea bargaining does not amount to a conviction and does not automatically imply guilt. Rather, it signals a willingness by the accused person to explore a negotiated settlement under the framework provided by Ghanaian law.
The EXIM Bank prosecution is unfolding alongside another major criminal case involving Chairman Wontumi. In a separate matter before the Accra High Court, he, Akonta Mining Limited and another accused person are standing trial over allegations of unauthorized mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.
That mining case has already concluded, with judgment scheduled for July 3, 2026.
Political And Legal Implications
The decision to seek plea negotiations is likely to generate significant debate within political and legal circles. Chairman Wontumi remains one of the NPP’s most influential regional figures and has recently been linked to discussions surrounding a potential bid for the party’s national chairmanship.
The development also comes at a time when the Attorney-General’s office has intensified investigations and prosecutions involving politically exposed persons and alleged financial crimes connected to state institutions.
For now, attention is focused on whether the Attorney-General and the defence can reach an agreement and what impact, if any, such an arrangement could have on one of the most closely watched financial crime cases currently before the courts.
