The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, appeared before the Accra High Court for the third time over an alleged loan fraud involving his farming company.

Wontumi is facing charges of fraud by false pretences, causing financial loss to a public body, money laundering, and authoring a forged document.

The charges relate to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a GH¢14.3 million loan from the Ghana Export-Import Bank between 2018 and 2022.

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When the case was called, Wontumi and his company, Wontumi Farms Ltd, pleaded "not guilty" to all four counts.

Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai told the court that Wontumi used a forged receipt, knowing it was not genuine, to obtain an additional GH¢4 million from the bank.

Lead counsel Andy Appiah Kubi asked the court to maintain the bail conditions granted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office, saying his client had been cooperative and had honoured all invitations.

“Wontumi is a politician of repute and has complied with the previous bail terms,” Appiah Kubi said.

Dr Srem-Sai did not oppose the bail request.

Presiding judge Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Basit granted the plea and allowed Wontumi to remain on the existing bail terms.

The court also directed the prosecution to file disclosures ahead of the Case Management Conference.

Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to June 18, 2026.

NAD/BAI

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