Lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, lawyer for Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, has refuted claims that his client’s decision to seek plea negotiations in the Exim Bank fraud case is an admission of guilt.
Appiah-Kubi highlighted that every accused person remains innocent until proven guilty under Ghana’s plea bargaining framework.
According to Wontumi’s lawyer, opting for a plea bargain doesn’t mean the person is guilty.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM on June 11, 2026, Appiah-Kubi explained, “Opting for a plea bargain doesn’t mean the person is guilty. We opted for a plea bargain and have not yet started discussions on the terms, but why is the Attorney-General impugning their own motives?”
“The Plea Bargaining Act comes as Act 1079. Section 162 of the previous Act has been amended and captured as 162A on plea negotiations. This law came into effect on July 22, 2022”.
“It’s not everyone that knows this provision. The plea agreement under Section 162A(1)(b) is to withdraw all the charges against the accused person, which is one of the expectations of the negotiations”.
“Section 162A(2)(a) says the prosecutor shall, before the commencement of plea negotiations, inform the accused person of the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he stated.
He addedd, “So there is no way that anyone who applies for plea negotiations admits guilt or is guilty. That’s not what the law says”.
“For now, we haven’t met to design the terms of negotiations, so why are we in a hurry to prescribe one of them for us when we haven’t indicated a preference?” he asked.
“If the negotiated position is the withdrawal of the charges, then where is the conviction?” he quizzed.
“We need to understand these things because the speculation is worrying. It is not fair,” he added.
His comments follow the Attorney General, who has told the court today that New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is seeking a plea bargain in the GH¢30 million EXIM Bank financial loss case.
According to reports, the Deputy Attorney General, Dr Justice Srem Sai, informed the court today, June 11, 2026, that Wontumi, through his lawyer on 5th June 2026, requested to initiate a plea negotiation in respect of the charges in the Exim Bank case.
It will be recalled that Chairman Wontumi was slapped with fresh charges over a GH¢14.3M Exim Bank loan case.
He was slapped with fresh charges, including fraud by false pretence.
Wontumi, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako (at large) and Wontumi Farms Limited are facing four counts of charges per the charge sheet filed on Friday, May 15, 2026.
The charge sheet filed on Friday, May 15, 2026, signed by Deputy Attorney General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, detailed that “Chairman Wontumi is personally facing three of the four counts of the charge of defrauding by false pretence, contrary to Section 131 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); uttering of a forged document, contrary to Section 169 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); and money laundering, contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)”.
“Together with Thomas Antwi-Boasiako and Wontumi Farms Limited, they are facing the charge of intentionally causing financial loss to a public body, contrary to Section 179A(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)”, Starr FM stated.
Hon. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings delivers an address at the NDC’s 34th anniversary celebration, paying tribute to the party’s legacy and the contributions of its founder while calling for unity and continued commitment among members.#GHNow pic.twitter.com/RfD0YgCQRQ
— GHnow (@ghnow_) June 10, 2026
