Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, appears to be in more legal trouble, as he has reportedly failed to reach a deal with the state in the ongoing EXIM Bank fraud trial.
According to a report by TV3, the state has rejected a plea deal offered by Wontumi, who was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of engaging in illegal mining activities in another case.
The report indicated that the plea bargain negotiations between Wontumi and the state failed because his offer did not meet expectations.
“Attorney General’s office rejects Chairman Wontumi’s plea deal in EXIM Bank fraud case. Plea negotiations failed because Wontumi’s proposal didn’t meet expectations,” TV3 wrote on a news card shared on its official X handle on Tuesday, June 21, 2026.
Azar breaks down Wontumi’s convictions and 20-year jail sentence
About the case:
Wontumi and two others face charges related to an alleged fraud scheme that caused significant financial loss to the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank.
According to court documents and reports, the accused are alleged to have defrauded the bank of approximately GH¢14.3 million to GH¢30 million through actions including presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution.
Wontumi’s legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, initiated the plea-bargaining process by writing to the Attorney General’s office. The request was formally communicated to the court earlier in June 2026.
Both parties jointly sought time to explore a potential settlement under Ghana’s plea-bargaining framework, which could involve a guilty plea in exchange for reduced charges, repayment with interest, or other terms.
Meanwhile, Wontumi, along with Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako (who is reportedly on the run), have pleaded not guilty to the charges when the matter first came before the court on May 18, 2026.
The jail time Wontumi might get if his plea bargaining in the EXIM Bank case fails
The case stems from events around 2018 involving a loan or facility from EXIM Bank.
On June 18, 2026, the court, presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, had previously adjourned the matter to allow initial plea talks.
BAI
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