Court orders the state to file disclosures in Wontumi bank fraud case

The Accra High Court has mandated the state to submit disclosures within 14 days in the EXIM Bank fraud case involving Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Wontumi. This directive emerges after unsuccessful attempts by both the prosecution and defence to reach an agreement through plea-bargaining, a process initiated by Boasiako’s legal representatives.

Reverend Joshua Sackey, Principal State Attorney, informed the court that despite efforts, a resolution could not be achieved. Samuel Atta Akyea, counsel for Boasiako, acknowledged that plea bargaining could be pursued at any point in the proceedings, but noted that the continuation of the case had hindered the process. The trial judge observed that plea bargaining had failed on two prior occasions, and the 30-day deadline for this negotiation had expired.

Consequently, the court has ordered the state to file its disclosures, setting the stage for a Case Management Conference (CMC) scheduled for September 22, 2026. Boasiako, a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is accused of securing a GH¢19 million loan from EXIM Bank for a maize farming project on 100 acres of land.

Prosecutors claim that the project was never carried out and that documents were fabricated to support the acquisition of agricultural machinery worth GH¢4 million. The loan amount reportedly escalated to around GH¢30 million. Boasiako and his farm, allegedly operated with an associate, Thomas Antwi Boasiako, who remains at large, are accused of perpetrating the offenses. Currently imprisoned, Boasiako has vehemently denied the allegations.