Chairman Wontumi seeks plea deal in GH¢30m Exim Bank fraud case
Lawyers for the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have formally opened plea bargain discussions with state prosecutors over charges relating to an alleged GH¢30 million fraud against the Ghana Export Import Bank (GEXIM).
Court documents filed at the Accra High Court on June 11, 2026, reveal that Wontumi's legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, submitted a request for plea negotiations on June 5, 2026.
Chairman Wontumi is standing trial alongside Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is currently on the run, over allegations that their actions caused a financial loss of GH¢30 million to the state-owned bank.
The move marks a significant development in the ongoing case, as plea negotiations could provide an avenue for discussions between the prosecution and the defence aimed at reaching a possible settlement under Ghana's criminal justice framework.
According to the prosecution, the accused persons engaged in activities that resulted in substantial financial loss to the Ghana Export Import Bank.
The matter remains before the Accra High Court, with proceedings expected to continue as the parties explore the possibility of a negotiated resolution.