Exim Bank fraud case: Wontumi must admit guilt before any plea deal — Akwatia MP
The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has argued that New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, should be required to admit wrongdoing before any plea bargain agreement is accepted in the ongoing GH¢14.3 million Exim Bank fraud case.
According to him, if Wontumi is unwilling to acknowledge the allegations against him, the Attorney-General should reject the plea bargain request and allow the matter to proceed on full trial.
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.
Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile programme on Saturday, June 13, Mr Bediako Baidoo pointed to portions of the prosecution's case and questioned the circumstances surrounding documents allegedly submitted to Exim Bank in support of the loan application.
"The company was incorporated on December 14, 2017 and he submitted a letter, a purported resolution of the board dated December 9, 2017 before the company was born. What could be more fraudulent than this?" he queried.
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 in a filing dated June 11, 2026 that Chairman Wontumi had commenced steps toward a plea agreement after his lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, submitted a request under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30).
While acknowledging that plea bargaining is recognised under Ghanaian law, the Akwatia legislator stressed that the arrangement should not be used to avoid a judicial determination of the fraud allegations before the court.
"If he refuses to admit that, 'yes, I did this thing', I would respectfully submit that the AG should not go for it. Let us have this proven in court," he stated.