The Accra High Court has directed the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days to pave the way for the full trial of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, over the alleged GH¢30 million Ghana Export-Import (Exim) Bank financial loss case.
The direction followed an announcement by the State on Thursday, August 27, 2026, that efforts to reach a plea agreement with Mr. Boasiako had not yielded a result .
Collapse of Plea Negotiations
When the case was called, State Attorneys appearing on behalf of the Attorney-General informed the court that the prosecution and the accused had not reached a plea agreement .
The court, presided over by Justice Halima El-Alawa Abdul Baasit, subsequently ruled that the case would proceed to trial . The judge noted that the statutory 30-day period for plea negotiations had elapsed after the matter had already been adjourned twice to allow the parties to negotiate .
Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai had previously indicated that an earlier settlement proposal of GH¢30 million was rejected by the state because it did not include accrued interest . Sources indicate that the defence made a proposal which prosecutors considered insufficient, leading to the collapse of talks .
Mr. Samuel Atta Akyea, lead counsel for Mr. Boasiako, agreed with the court’s position but pointed out that a plea agreement could still be reached before judgment . The judge concurred, indicating that the possibility of a plea agreement remained open even as the trial proceeds.
Next Steps in Proceedings
Following the court’s decision, the prosecution was directed to file its disclosures within 14 days . The disclosure process will allow Mr. Boasiako and his lawyers to examine the prosecution’s case and prepare their defence .
The parties subsequently agreed on September 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. for a Case Management Conference, at which the court is expected to give further directions on the trial .
Background to the Plea Negotiations
The plea negotiations began following significant changes to Mr. Boasiako’s legal team. On June 15, 2026, Mr. Atta Akyea formally took over as lead counsel from Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi .
On July 27, Mr. Atta Akyea informed the court that he had engaged the Deputy Attorney-General on the possibility of reaching an agreement . The prosecution told the court that negotiations were at an advanced stage and requested a further 30-day period to conclude them .
Dr. Srem-Sai said the negotiations had made progress before they were interrupted by Mr. Boasiako’s conviction in a separate case . He also indicated that the prosecution had not filed its disclosures because it did not want the process to prejudice the ongoing negotiations .
The Charges
Mr. Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, a director of Wontumi Farms Limited, are facing charges arising from an alleged transaction involving Exim Bank .
Mr. Boasiako has pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretence, uttering a forged document, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body .
The prosecution alleges that in 2018, Mr. Boasiako, acting as Managing Director of Wontumi Farms Limited, applied for a facility of about GH¢19 million from Exim Bank to finance a farming project . The Bank subsequently approved a mixed loan and grant facility of GH¢18.7 million, out of which GH¢14.302 million was disbursed to Wontumi Farms .
The prosecution further alleges that the proposed farming project was not undertaken and that a document presented to the Bank as a receipt for agricultural machinery worth GH¢4 million was, in fact, an altered pro-forma invoice from KAS-SAMA Enterprise . Investigators allege that substantial portions of the money were withdrawn and used for personal purposes and investments in other businesses, resulting in a financial loss to the Bank of more than GH¢30 million .
Mr. Boasiako has consistently denied the allegations.
Current Imprisonment
Mr. Boasiako is currently serving a 20-year jail term for illegal mining-related offences . On July 20, 2026, the High Court sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment for offences linked to Akonta Mining Limited in the Samreboi concession . The court also fined him 10,000 penalty units on each count .
His legal team has indicated plans to appeal the conviction .
