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

Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has pleaded not guilty to five counts of fraud and money laundering. Appearing before Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit on October 12, 2026, the politician rejected allegations that he defrauded the Ghana Export-Import (Exim) Bank of GH‵30 million. The case involves an amended charge sheet filed by the prosecution, which asserts that Wontumi used forged documents to secure funding for a farming project that was never executed.

The defense, led by lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea, has consistently maintained that the dispute is civil rather than criminal. Atta Akyea revealed that recent attempts at plea-bargaining with the state ended without success because the terms offered were unfavorable to his client. The defense argues that the matter centers on a loan dispute that should be resolved through financial reconciliation, emphasizing that a failure to repay a loan should not be equated with criminal wrongdoing such as forgery or causing financial loss to the state.

Despite the request for bail by his legal team, the court ordered that Wontumi be returned to prison, where he is currently serving a 20-year sentence for a previous, separate conviction. The prosecution alleges that the funds were obtained under false pretenses for an agricultural initiative that existed only on paper. While the amended charges focus on a GH‵30 million figure, some defense arguments referenced a specific loan component of GH‵14.3 million as part of the broader dispute.

The proceedings have been adjourned to October 27, 2026, for a Case Management Conference. This upcoming phase will allow the court to outline the timeline and procedures for the trial as the state prepares to present evidence regarding the alleged money laundering and document forgery. The outcome of the case is being closely watched due to the high profile of the defendant and the substantial amount of public funds involved in the allegations.