The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has disclosed that his office will prosecute the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, for allegedly causing financial loss to the state in relation to a loan from the Ghana Exim Bank.

According to Dr Ayine on Monday, December 22, 2025, the decision follows investigations conducted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), which uncovered what he described as a deliberate scheme to defraud the state..

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“In the face of the evidence gathered in this investigation, thoroughly conducted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office [EOCO], we have made the decision to prosecute Wontumi Farms and its directors for defrauding by false pretenses, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state in the sum of GH¢24,255,735. This figure represents the principal sum plus the interest accrued so far,” he stated.

Dr Ayine explained that investigations revealed that Wontumi Farms Limited applied for the loan at a time when the company was not yet in existence.

“In short, the company did not exist at the time of the loan application by its sole shareholder and director. Investigations established that Wontumi Farms Limited was incorporated on December 14, 2017, and issued a certificate to commence business on the same day,” he said.

He noted that despite this, the company submitted an application to Exim Bank, indicating that its board had met and resolved to seek a loan facility to support a large-scale farming project under the Mining Alternative Livelihoods Initiative.

“The application letter stated, among other things, that the credit facility was meant for a farming venture and that the company had secured 100,000 acres of land for that purpose,” the Attorney-General added.

Dr Ayine further disclosed that although Ghana Exim Bank approved a loan facility of GH¢18,734,260, including a grant component, several pre-disbursement conditions were allegedly not met, including the acquisition of farming equipment.

He alleged that Chairman Wontumi submitted forged documents to Ghana Exim Bank to suggest that equipment had been purchased.

“He forged the invoice he obtained from Kassama Enterprise by removing the word ‘invoice’ and replacing it with ‘receipt.’ This forged receipt was then submitted to Ghana Exim Bank as proof that he had purchased the equipment after the disbursement of the loan facility,” Dr Ayine stated.

According to him, investigations confirmed that no such equipment was ever purchased and that the farming project never materialised.

“The equipment they claimed to have purchased was never procured. The farming enterprise never materialised, and no young persons were employed in Asare Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region,” he said.

Dr Ayine stressed that the acts uncovered go beyond contractual breaches.

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“These are not mere breaches of contract, but constitute acts of criminality by no less a person than the former chairman of the then-ruling party,” he added.

He concluded that his office will proceed to file charges after the Christmas break, noting that the final amount involved will be confirmed by Ghana Exim Bank before the case is taken to court.

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