The Attorney General’s Office has reportedly rejected a plea bargain proposal submitted by Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the ongoing EXIM Bank fraud case.
According to a report by TV3, negotiations between the state and Wontumi’s legal team collapsed after the proposal failed to meet the state’s expectations.
Wontumi’s legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, had initiated plea-bargaining discussions by formally writing to the Attorney General’s Office. The request was communicated to the court in June 2026, leading to an adjournment on June 18 to allow both parties to explore a possible settlement.
Under Ghana’s plea-bargaining framework, such negotiations can involve a guilty plea in exchange for reduced charges, repayment with interest, or other agreed terms. However, the reported rejection means the criminal trial is expected to proceed.
Wontumi, Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako have all pleaded not guilty to the charges after their first court appearance on May 18, 2026.
The accused are alleged to have defrauded the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of between GH¢14.3 million and GH¢30 million through offences including fraud, presenting a forged receipt, money laundering and causing financial loss to a public institution.
The case stems from a loan facility granted by EXIM Bank around 2018. The reported collapse of the plea bargain means the high-profile EXIM Bank fraud case is set to continue in court, with Wontumi and his co-accused maintaining their not guilty plea.
Source: TV3 (as reported by GhanaWeb).
