Bernard Antwi-Boasiako pleads not guilty to GH₵30m Exim Bank fraud

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, pleaded not guilty to five criminal charges at the Accra High Court on October 13, 2026. The charges are tied to an alleged GH₵30 million fraud case involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank). The accused, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for a separate conviction, faces counts of defrauding by false pretence, money laundering, forgery, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.

The prosecution alleges that in 2018, Antwi-Boasiako and a co-accused—who remains at large—conspired to defraud the state-owned bank by submitting forged documents to secure credit. These documents reportedly included a pro-forma invoice from EPSONS GHANA LIMITED intended for a large-scale farming project. The state contends that the project was never executed and that funds meant for Wontumi Farms Limited were subsequently diverted or misused.

Representing the defendant, lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea argued that the case should be treated as a civil debt recovery matter rather than a criminal prosecution. Atta Akyea also disclosed that plea-bargaining negotiations with the state had recently collapsed because the proposed terms were unfavorable to his client. The defense maintains that the dispute centers on an unpaid loan and lacks the criminal intent required for the current charges.

The presiding judge has adjourned the case to October 27, 2026, for a Case Management Conference. In the interim, the prosecution has been directed to file all necessary disclosures and witness statements within 14 days. While the defense continues to advocate for a civil settlement, the state is proceeding with the criminal trial regarding the substantial financial loss incurred by the public institution.