The criminal trial involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has taken a new turn after he moved to negotiate a plea bargain in the ongoing EXIM Bank fraud case.
A court filing from the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, sighted on June 11, 2026, confirms that Wontumi, through his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, formally requested plea negotiations over the charges against him.
The notice, titled “Notification of Commencement of Plea Negotiation,” was filed on June 11, 2026, and signed by Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai.
According to the filing, the request was made on June 5, 2026, under Section 162C(3) of Act 30.
“WE HEREBY NOTIFY the honourable Court that the 1st Accused Person herein has, through his counsel, MR. ANDY APPIAH-KUBI, ESQ., in a letter dated June 5, 2026, to the Honourable Attorney-General, made a request to initiate a plea negotiation in respect of the charges in this trial,” the notice stated.
The filing listed the accused persons as Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (1st accused), Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is currently at large (2nd accused), and Wontumi Farms Limited (3rd accused).
The case is before the High Court in Accra under docket number CR/0529/2026.
Background to the EXIM Bank case
Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dominic Akuritinga Ayine disclosed in December 2025 that investigations into a loan facility granted to Wontumi Farms established that equipment required under the terms of the loan agreement was never purchased despite the disbursement of funds.
According to the Attorney General, the loan agreement required all equipment acquired with the facility to be registered jointly in the names of Ghana EXIM Bank and Wontumi Farms Limited.
However, investigations allegedly found that no such equipment was purchased, making the joint registration requirement impossible to fulfil.
The Attorney General further stated that investigators were unable to trace any of the equipment Chairman Wontumi claimed to have acquired and that receipts submitted to support the purchases were found to be forged.
As a result, prosecutors decided to charge Wontumi Farms and its directors with offences including defrauding by false pretences, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state.
According to the Attorney General, the alleged financial loss amounts to GH¢24.26 million, representing the principal loan amount and accrued interest.
During investigations, Chairman Wontumi reportedly claimed he had purchased what he described as “secondhand brand new” equipment and had submitted all relevant documentation to the bank.
However, prosecutors say Ghana EXIM Bank denied receiving any valid purchase documents and indicated that the only records submitted were the allegedly forged receipts identified during the investigation.
