Wontumi seeks plea bargain in Exim Bank ‘fraud’ case
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi and Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has formally requested to enter plea negotiations in a case before the High Court of Justice, Accra. The request was filed on June 11, 2026, according to an official court document from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.
Court filing details
The document, marked Docket No. CR/0529/2026, was filed at the Superior Court of Judicature in the High Court of Justice, Accra. The case is titled “The Republic versus Bernard Antwi-Boasiako @ Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako (At Large), and Wontumi Farms Limited.” Bernard Antwi-Boasiako is listed as the 1st Accused Person, with Thomas Antwi-Boasiako as the 2nd Accused and Wontumi Farms Limited as the 3rd Accused.
According to the notification signed by Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Hon. Deputy Attorney-General, the 1st Accused Person, through his counsel, Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi, Esq., sent a letter dated June 5, 2026 to the Honourable Attorney-General. The letter requested the commencement of plea negotiation in respect of the charges in the trial. The notification was filed at the High Court Registry on June 11, 2026 at 9:08 am/pm.
Plea negotiation under Ghana law
The request was made under Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960, Act 30. Section 162C allows either the prosecution or the accused to initiate plea bargaining in criminal cases. A plea negotiation, also called a plea bargain, is a legal process where an accused may agree to plead guilty to a charge or to a lesser charge in exchange for an agreed sentence or other consideration. Any agreement reached must be approved by the court before it takes effect.
The court document does not list the specific charges. Media reports, including the Daily Guide front page of June 12, 2026, have described the matter as relating to an Exim Bank case. The Export-Import Bank of Ghana provides financing for trade and strategic projects, and cases involving financial institutions often receive public attention due to their impact on public funds.
Legal status and next steps
Filing a notification of plea negotiation does not mean guilt or conviction. Under Article 19(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, every person charged with a criminal offence is presumed innocent until proven guilty or until they plead guilty and the plea is accepted by the court.
The next steps will involve negotiations between the prosecution and defense counsel. If both parties reach an agreement, the terms will be presented to the presiding judge for approval. The judge will assess whether the agreement serves the interest of justice and public interest before accepting it. If no agreement is reached, the case will proceed to full trial.
Chairman Wontumi remains a prominent political figure in the Ashanti Region. Further updates are expected from the High Court, the Office of the Attorney-General, or the legal representatives of the accused persons as the process continues.
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