The Accra High Court has issued a critical order directing the state to proactively file disclosures within 14 days concerning the EXIM Bank fraud case involving Bernard Antwi Boasiako, better known as Wontumi, a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). This unprecedented directive follows a protracted period of unsuccessful plea-bargaining attempts by the prosecution and defence, culminating in the court’s insistence on a formal disclosure process.
The order follows the collapse of negotiations between the parties, as Principal State Attorney Reverend Joshua Sackey explained to the court on Thursday. ‘We have been unable to reach an agreement,’ he stated, ‘and the court has directed that the parties seek the direction of the court to file our disclosures.’
Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for Wontumi, acknowledged the plea-bargaining process, stating that it was a stage of the proceedings. He affirmed that the continuation of the case had halted the plea bargaining process.
The trial judge noted that attempts at plea bargaining had previously failed on two occasions, and that the 30-day period for the process had elapsed. The court subsequently directed the state to file its disclosures as a crucial step towards a Case Management Conference (CMC) scheduled for September 22, 2026.
The case centers around a GH¢19 million loan facility granted to Wontumi’s maize farming project on 100 acres of land. The prosecution alleges that the project was never undertaken, and that supporting documents detailing agricultural machinery purchased at a value of GH¢4 million were presented. The loan facility allegedly ballooned to approximately GH¢30 million.
Boasiako and his associate, Thomas Antwi Boasiako, remains at large, and the prosecution alleges that he is currently serving a prison sentence. Boasiako denies all charges.
The case involves allegations of obtaining a loan facility from EXIM Bank for a maize farming project, with the prosecution claiming the project was not implemented and that documents were used to justify the purchase of agricultural machinery. The prosecution also alleges that the loan facility increased to about GH¢30 million.
The court has indicated that the disclosure process is vital to enabling a more efficient CMC, allowing for a thorough examination of the case’s legal implications. The case was adjourned to September 22, 2026, with Boasiako currently serving a prison sentence, leaving the proceedings without his direct involvement.
This development represents a significant shift in the legal strategy and underscores the court’s commitment to transparency and procedural rigor in the case, potentially impacting the prosecution’s efforts to secure a conviction.
Sources confirm that the disclosure requirement is part of a broader effort to ensure the case is handled efficiently and that this action reflects the court’s emphasis on a fair and thorough legal process.
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Source: Adom Online
