The High Court in Accra has issued a formal directive, effectively halting any plea negotiations for convicted Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over the alleged GH¢30 million loss to Exim Bank. The ruling follows a protracted period of stalled negotiations and a court order extending the deadline for parties to reach a resolution, now set for September 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The issuance signifies a significant shift in the legal proceedings concerning this complex case, marking a pivotal juncture in the prosecution’s strategy.
The directive, communicated by the State Attorney, follows a series of rulings by the court, culminating in this decisive action. The court, presided over by Justice Halima El-Alawa Abdul Baasit, has explicitly stated that the statutory 30-day period for plea negotiations had elapsed, after the case had been adjourned twice to allow for further negotiation between the parties. This delay was a direct consequence of the court’s earlier rulings, which had adjourned the case to August 27, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
The State Attorneys, appearing on behalf of the Attorney-General, explained that the prosecution and the accused – Mr Boasiako – had not achieved a consensus regarding a plea agreement. The prosecution’s initial position, as revealed by the Attorney-General, was that the negotiations were at an advanced stage and that the prosecution required further time to conclude the process. However, the court subsequently indicated that, having already granted two adjournments, the prosecution would proceed with the trial, as stipulated by the statutory 30-day period. This decision underscores the court’s determination to expedite the proceedings.
Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for Mr Boasiako, explicitly agreed with the court’s position, stating that a plea agreement could still be reached before judgment. However, he cautioned that a plea agreement could still be reached before the trial concludes. The judge, acknowledging the counsel’s perspective, indicated that the possibility of a plea agreement remained open even as the trial proceeded.
The case, which originated from an alleged transaction involving Exim Bank, centers around the alleged fraudulent transaction involving Wontumi Farms Limited. The prosecution alleges that in 2018, Mr Boasiako, acting as Managing Director of Wontumi Farms Limited, applied for a facility of approximately GH¢19 million from Exim Bank to finance a farming project. The Bank subsequently approved a mixed loan and grant facility of GH¢18.7 million, out of which GH¢14.302 million was disbursed to Wontumi Farms. The prosecution contends that the proposed farming project was not undertaken, and that a document presented as a receipt for agricultural machinery worth GH¢4 million was, in fact, an altered pro-forma invoice. The prosecution also alleges substantial portions of the money were withdrawn and used for personal purposes and investments in other businesses, resulting in a financial loss to the Bank of more than GH¢30 million. Mr Boasiako vehemently denies these allegations.
Mr Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, the director of Wontumi Farms Limited, are facing charges including defrauding by false pretence, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body. The prosecution alleges that in 2018, Mr Boasiako, acting as Managing Director of Wontumi Farms Limited, applied for a facility of about GH¢19 million from Exim Bank to finance a farming project. The Bank subsequently approved a mixed loan and grant facility of GH¢18.7 million, out of which GH¢14.302 million was disbursed to Wontumi Farms. The prosecution further alleges that substantial portions of the money were withdrawn and used for personal purposes and investments in other businesses, resulting in a financial loss to the Bank of more than GH¢30 million. Mr Boasiako has denied these allegations.
The court’s directive effectively halts any plea negotiations for Mr Boasiako, placing the prosecution firmly on its path to proceed with the trial. The delay, stemming from the court’s earlier rulings, has been a critical step in the prosecution’s strategy, ensuring that the legal proceedings are expedited.
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Source: Graphic Online
