The Accra High Court has directed the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days following the breakdown of plea bargain negotiations involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in an alleged GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud case.

The plea bargain discussions, which had been ongoing between the State and Wontumi's legal team for about a month, ended without an agreement after the prosecution rejected a proposal put forward by the defence.

The development clears the way for the case to proceed to trial.

Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai had earlier indicated that the State was dissatisfied with the proposal presented by Wontumi's legal team.

“They made a plea proposal of what they want to offer. In our opinion, we are not satisfied, and so we intend to reject it,” he said.

The prosecution said the defence had proposed making a payment to settle aspects of the case, but the offer was considered inadequate.

Following the collapse of the negotiations, the court ordered the prosecution to complete and file its disclosures within 14 days.

The disclosure process requires the prosecution to provide the defence with the documents, evidence and other materials it intends to rely on during the trial.

This allows the accused persons and their lawyers to examine the prosecution's case and adequately prepare their defence as part of the fair-trial protections guaranteed under Article 19 of the 1992 Constitution.

Chairman Wontumi and his co-accused, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, have pleaded not guilty to four charges: defrauding by false pretence, forgery, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution.

The prosecution alleges that the two accused persons obtained approximately GH¢14.3 million from the Ghana Export-Import Bank between 2018 and 2022 through Wontumi Farms Limited for a farming project that was allegedly not undertaken.

The State further alleges that Wontumi submitted a forged receipt to support an application for an additional GH¢4 million credit facility.

Both accused persons have denied the allegations and are expected to defend themselves as the case proceeds to trial.