The High Court hearing the case involving businessman and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been informed that attempts to reach a plea agreement between the accused and the Attorney General have failed.
The development emerged during proceedings in the case, officially styled Republic v Bernard Antwi Boasiako & 2 Others, concerning an alleged GH¢30 million Exim Bank-related financial loss.
The court had previously granted the parties additional time to explore the possibility of a plea agreement following a proposal from Mr Antwi Boasiako.
However, at the latest sitting, the court was informed that no plea agreement had been reached between the accused person and the Attorney General.
With negotiations unsuccessful, the court has directed that the matter proceed to trial.
As part of preparations for the trial, the court has ordered the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days.
The disclosures are expected to provide the defence with the evidence and other relevant materials upon which the prosecution intends to rely during the trial.
The court has also scheduled a Case Management Conference (CMC) for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
The conference is expected to assist the court and the parties in organising the case ahead of the substantive trial, including identifying issues for determination and dealing with other preliminary matters.
Chairman Wontumi and the two other accused persons are facing four charges in connection with the case.
The charges are:
– Defrauding by false pretences
– Uttering a forged document
– Money laundering
– Intentionally causing financial loss to a public body
The alleged financial loss involved is GH¢30 million.
The prosecution’s case relates to an alleged financial transaction involving the Export-Import Bank of Ghana (Exim Bank).
The accused persons are expected to have the opportunity to challenge the allegations and present their defence as the trial progresses.
Chairman Wontumi, who is currently in prison following his conviction in a separate illegal mining-related case, is now expected to face the court on the Exim Bank charges after the collapse of the proposed plea negotiations.
The latest development means the prosecution will now proceed with the case through the normal trial process unless the parties reach any subsequent agreement permitted by law.
The September 22 Case Management Conference is therefore expected to mark an important stage in determining how the substantive trial will proceed.
As the matter remains before the court, the accused persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law.
By 1960news.com
