The State has refiled criminal charges against former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, following the collapse of plea-bargaining negotiations in his alleged GH¢30 million Ghana Exim Bank financial loss case.
The fresh charges were filed on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, after the prosecution and defence failed to reach an agreement on a possible plea deal.
Wontumi’s legal team, initially led by Andy Appiah-Kubi and later by Samuel Atta Akyea, had been engaged in negotiations with the prosecution after he was first arraigned on May 18, 2026. The negotiations had been described by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai in July as being at an advanced stage.
However, the talks ultimately failed to produce an agreement, paving the way for the prosecution to proceed with the case.
The new charge sheet includes allegations of defrauding by false pretences, uttering a forged document, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.
The prosecution alleges that Wontumi obtained a facility from Ghana Exim Bank for an agricultural project and that more than GH¢14.3 million was disbursed to Wontumi Farms Limited. It further alleges that the proposed farming project was not undertaken and that an altered document was presented to the bank in connection with the purchase of agricultural machinery. The State says the alleged transactions resulted in financial losses of more than GH¢30 million.
At Tuesday’s hearing, state prosecutors applied to withdraw the previous charge sheet to allow the fresh charges to be formally brought before the court.
Wontumi’s lawyers, however, requested an adjournment, arguing that the new charge sheet had only been served on them on the morning of the hearing.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 13, 2026.
Wontumi has denied the allegations and previously pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case also involves Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is reportedly at large.
