An Accra High Court has granted the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine and lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, permission to begin plea-bargaining negotiations in the Exim Bank loan case.

The request, filed by his lawyer, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi under Section 162C(3) of Act 30, marks the beginning of formal negotiations between the prosecution and defence in the ongoing criminal trial.

Wontumi and two others, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako (reportedly at large), and Wontumi Farms Limited are facing four charges, defrauding by false pretence, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution.

Wontumi seeks plea bargain in EXIM Bank fraud case

According to the charge sheet filed on May 15, 2026, the accused allegedly obtained GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank in 2018 after applying for a GH¢18.7 million facility on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited for a large-scale farming project.

The prosecution alleges that no farming activities were undertaken, no machinery was purchased, and no workers were employed.

It further claims that a document presented as proof of the purchase of farming equipment was forged, resulting in financial loss to the bank exceeding GH¢30 million.

Wontumi pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared before the Accra High Court on May 18, 2026.

JKB/VPO

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