The High Court in Accra has directed the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days to pave the way for the trial of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the convicted former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over an alleged GH¢30 million financial loss to the Ghana Export-Import (Exim) Bank.
The direction followed an announcement by the State that efforts to reach a plea agreement with Boasiako had not yielded an outcome.
The court, presided over by Justice Halima El-Alawa Abdul Baasit, ruled that the case would proceed to trial, noting that the statutory 30-day period for plea negotiations had elapsed after the matter had already been adjourned twice to allow the parties to negotiate. The case has been adjourned to September 22, 2026, for a Case Management Conference.
Boasiako is currently serving a 20-year jail term in a separate case related to illegal mining.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, August 27, State Attorneys appearing on behalf of the Attorney-General informed the court that the prosecution and the accused had not reached a plea agreement, bringing an end to the latest window the court had granted for negotiations. Having already allowed two adjournments and with the statutory period elapsed, the court said it would proceed with the trial.
Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for Boasiako, agreed with the court's position but pointed out that a plea agreement could still be reached before judgment. The judge concurred, indicating the possibility remained open even as the trial proceeds. The prosecution was subsequently directed to file its disclosures within 14 days, with the parties agreeing on September 22 for the Case Management Conference.
On July 27, Atta Akyea formally took over as lead counsel for Boasiako from Andy Appiah-Kubi and told the court he had engaged Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai on the possibility of reaching an agreement. The prosecution had said the negotiations were at an advanced stage and requested a further 30-day period to conclude them, which the court granted. At that sitting, Dr Srem-Sai said the negotiations had made progress before being interrupted by Boasiako's conviction in the separate mining case, and that the prosecution had held off filing its disclosures so as not to prejudice the ongoing talks. The court had earlier granted the parties additional time on July 6 after being told negotiations were still under way.
Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, a director of Wontumi Farms Limited, face charges arising from an alleged transaction involving Exim Bank. Boasiako has pleaded not guilty to 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, 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, of which GH¢14.302 million was disbursed to Wontumi Farms. The prosecution alleges the proposed farming project was never undertaken, and that a document presented to the Bank as a receipt for agricultural machinery worth GH¢4 million was in fact an altered pro-forma invoice. The State 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. Boasiako has denied the allegations.
Unless a plea agreement is reached before the trial concludes, the prosecution will now proceed to present its case against the accused persons.
