The trial involving New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will continue despite ongoing settlement discussions between the state and his legal team.
Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice Dr Justice Srem Sai said the government has not abandoned negotiations with Wontumi’s lawyers but has decided that the criminal proceedings should continue alongside the discussions.
Speaking exclusively to Austin Woode on Morning Starr, Dr Srem Sai explained that prosecutors would ordinarily consider pausing a trial while settlement talks are underway, but the circumstances of the case influenced the decision to pursue both processes at the same time.
“We, as prosecutors, have decided to proceed with the trial while we continue negotiations on the side,” he said.
According to Dr Srem Sai, the state communicated its position to Wontumi’s lawyers after the parties held two meetings.
He said the second meeting was used to inform the defence team that the trial would not be suspended because the negotiations had yet to produce an agreement that was acceptable to the government.
The Deputy Attorney General also commented on a reported GH¢12 million settlement proposal, saying the figure was far below the amount the bank expected to recover.
“The 12 million you mentioned, if indeed he said that, then 12 million is far below what even the bank expects to get,” he stated.
Dr Srem Sai argued that the government would not be justified in accepting an amount substantially below the alleged losses simply to bring the matter to an end.
He said the evidence and circumstances of the case did not support accepting less than half of the losses allegedly suffered.
The Deputy Attorney General acknowledged that Wontumi’s lawyers were unhappy with the decision to continue the trial but said the defence had been informed of what would need to happen for the government to reconsider its position.
“They know what to do if they want that situation to change. We have told them what to do if they want that situation to change,” he said.
Dr Srem Sai stressed that the government remains willing to negotiate, but the trial will proceed unless both sides reach an agreement acceptable to the state.
