Former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is facing fresh charges over his alleged involvement in the defrauding of Ghana Exim Bank of more than GH¢14 million.
The state has also accused the businessman and politician of causing financial loss to the state estimated at GH¢30 million.
The development follows the collapse of plea negotiations between Wontumi’s legal team and the prosecution after the two sides failed to reach an agreement.
Wontumi was first arraigned on May 18, 2026, following allegations relating to the Ghana Exim Bank transaction. His legal team, initially led by Andy Appiah Kubi and later by Samuel Atta Akyea, subsequently entered into discussions with the prosecution over a possible plea arrangement.
On July 27, 2026, Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai indicated that the negotiations were “far advanced.” However, the discussions ultimately failed to produce an agreement, prompting the prosecution to refile the charges.
The fresh charges, filed on September 22, 2026, include defrauding by false pretences, uttering a forged document, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
At Tuesday’s court sitting, prosecutors applied to withdraw the previous charge sheet to make way for the newly filed charges.
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 case to October 13, 2026.
The fresh charges mean Wontumi will now have to respond to the allegations as the prosecution proceeds with its case over the alleged GH¢14 million Ghana Exim Bank fraud and the broader financial loss claim against him.
