Ghana to Continue Prosecution of Wontumi in GH₵30 Million EXIM Bank Fraud Case

The Ghanaian State is pressing forward with the prosecution of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), in a case involving an alleged GH₵30 million fraud related to the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Edem Srem-Sai, confirmed the state's intention to continue the case against Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi.

This development follows a decision by the trial High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, to allow the parties additional time to finalize their plea bargain negotiations. Dr. Srem-Sai, however, did not provide details on whether these negotiations have been successful.

Antwi-Boasiako is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence at Nsawam Prison, having been convicted of purposely facilitating illegal mining at his Samreboi concession. In the EXIM Bank case, he entered into plea bargain negotiations with the Attorney-General on June 5. The charges stem from allegations of obtaining an EXIM Bank facility fraudulently for a farming project.

Under Ghana's plea bargaining system, an accused can potentially avoid a full trial by reaching an agreement with the prosecution, subject to court approval. If approved, the court can impose a fine, a non-custodial sentence, or another lawful sentence.

In the EXIM Bank case, Antwi-Boasiako is the first accused. The charges include defrauding by false pretense, money laundering, and uttering forged documents. The prosecution alleges that Antwi-Boasiako applied for funding in January 2018 for a large-scale farming project, claiming to have secured 100,000 acres of land. The bank subsequently approved a loan and grant facility of GH₵18.73 million, with GH₵14.3 million disbursed to Wontumi Farms Limited. Investigations reportedly revealed that the farming project was never undertaken, and agricultural machinery was not purchased as claimed. The prosecution further alleges that Antwi-Boasiako presented an altered document, originally a pro forma invoice, as proof of purchase for GH₵4 million in agricultural equipment to secure further funds. Substantial amounts of the disbursed facility were allegedly used for personal purposes and other ventures, and EXIM Bank's efforts to recover the funds have been unsuccessful.

“

The State has informed lawyers for former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, of its intention to continue prosecuting the alleged GH₵30 million Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank fraud case against him.