Wontumi EXIM Bank Case Still Without Plea Deal, Srem-Sai Says

Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Justice Srem-Sai, says no plea agreement has been reached yet in the criminal case involving New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, and two other accused persons.

The case, formally listed as The Republic v Bernard Antwi-Boasiako & 2 Others, is tied to allegations around an EXIM Bank loan facility obtained for a farming project. The matter has attracted strong public attention because of the political profile of the first accused and the scale of the alleged financial loss to the state-owned bank.

"The statutory 30-day period for concluding the plea bargain in The Republic v Bernard Antwi-Boasiako & 2 Others (the Exim Bank trial) will end next week. I can confirm that we have not reached a plea agreement yet," Justice Srem-Sai stated.

Plea Talks Still Unresolved As Deadline Nears

Justice Srem-Sai gave the update in a Facebook post, confirming that discussions between prosecutors and the accused persons have not produced a settlement. Under the current process, the parties are working within a statutory 30-day window for plea bargain negotiations, a period he said is expected to expire next week.

The disclosure means the prosecution has not accepted any final arrangement that would resolve the charges through a negotiated plea. It also signals that, unless a deal is reached before the deadline, the case may continue through the normal criminal trial process.

The High Court in Accra had earlier adjourned the matter to July 27 to allow both sides more time to continue negotiations. That adjournment placed the plea talks at the centre of the next phase of the case, but the Deputy Attorney-General’s latest statement makes clear that no final position has been agreed.

Plea bargaining allows an accused person and prosecutors to negotiate a possible resolution of a criminal case, often involving admissions, agreed penalties, restitution, or other terms approved by the court. In high-profile financial crime matters, such negotiations are watched closely because they can determine whether a full trial proceeds or whether the matter is resolved under conditions acceptable to the state and the court.

What Prosecutors Are Alleging

Chairman Wontumi and the other accused persons are facing charges connected to an alleged loan arrangement with EXIM Bank. According to the prosecution, the case concerns a facility obtained for a farming project through Wontumi Farms Limited.

The prosecution alleges that between 2018 and 2022, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako secured about GH¢14.3 million from EXIM Bank through false representations. The state’s case is that the funds were obtained under circumstances that misled the bank about the true basis of the transaction.

Prosecutors also allege that the accused persons presented a forged receipt while applying for an additional GH¢4 million facility. That claim forms part of the broader allegation that the bank was exposed to financial loss through fraudulent documentation and representations.

The charges include obtaining money by false pretences and money laundering. The prosecution further alleges that the transactions caused financial loss of more than GH¢30 million to EXIM Bank.

• The accused persons include Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and two others.
• The case concerns an alleged EXIM Bank loan facility linked to a farming project.
• Prosecutors allege about GH¢14.3 million was secured between 2018 and 2022 through Wontumi Farms Limited.
• An additional GH¢4 million facility is also part of the allegations, with prosecutors claiming a forged receipt was presented.
• The state alleges total financial loss of more than GH¢30 million to EXIM Bank.

Next Court Date Now Carries More Weight

The July 27 adjourned date is now likely to be watched even more closely. If no plea agreement is concluded before the statutory period ends, the court may have to determine how the case proceeds, subject to any further applications from the parties.

For the prosecution, the absence of a deal keeps the burden firmly on the state to prove the charges if the matter advances to trial. For the accused persons, who remain entitled to the presumption of innocence, the next steps will determine whether they contest the charges fully or continue to explore any lawful negotiated resolution.

The case sits within a broader national concern over accountability in public finance, especially where state-linked institutions and large credit facilities are involved. EXIM Bank’s role in supporting trade, agriculture, and industrial activity gives the allegations added public interest, because the case concerns funds tied to development financing rather than a purely private commercial transaction.

Justice Srem-Sai’s update does not disclose the content of the negotiations or the positions taken by either side. What it confirms is the key point for now: the parties have not crossed the line from discussion to agreement.

Until that changes, the EXIM Bank trial remains active, unresolved, and politically sensitive. The next court sitting will show whether the prosecution and defence have found common ground or whether the case will move deeper into the trial process.