Exim Bank fraud case: 'Wontumi's plea bargain is not an admission of guilt' — Nana Agyei Baffuor

Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah, has asserted that the plea bargain initiated by New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in his ongoing fraud case does not amount to an admission of guilt.

Chairman Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako who is reported to be at large, and Wontumi Farms Limited are facing four charges, namely defrauding by false pretence, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution.

According to the charge sheet filed on May 15, 2026, the accused allegedly obtained GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank in 2018 after applying for a facility of GH¢18.7 million on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited for a large-scale farming project.

The prosecution alleges that no farming activities were undertaken, no machinery was purchased and no workers were employed. It further alleges that a document presented as evidence of the purchase of farming equipment was forged.

The charge sheet also accuses the three defendants of causing financial loss to Exim Bank exceeding GH¢30 million in connection with the transaction.

The Attorney-General's Office informed the High Court in Accra about Wontumi's plea bargain application in a filing dated June 11, 2026, stating that he had commenced steps towards a plea agreement.

According to the filing, the request was made through Chairman Wontumi's lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, in a letter dated June 5, 2026, submitted under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews' Newsfile programme on Saturday, June 13, Nana Agyei Baffuor, who is also a lawyer, said pursuing a plea bargain was a strategic legal decision that should not be misconstrued as an admission of wrongdoing.

"Let's all acknowledge that this is not an admission of guilt. I think we need to put the brakes on it, and then look at things from their proper perspective," he stated.

The lawmaker argued that the move could also align with the Attorney-General's stated objective of prioritising asset recovery over lengthy and expensive court proceedings.

He referenced the Attorney-General's handling of the case involving Dr. Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, noting that similar considerations had informed previous prosecutorial decisions.

Nana Agyei Baffuor cautioned the public against rushing to judgment, stressing that plea bargaining is a legal mechanism with several possible outcomes, including reduced charges, withdrawal of charges, or alternative sentencing arrangements.