The state prosecutors have refiled charges against former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The development follows the collapse of plea negotiations between the defence and the state over Wontumi’s alleged role in defrauding Ghana Exim Bank of more than GH¢14 million and causing financial loss to the state estimated at GH¢30 million.
On September 22, 2026, the prosecution refiled the charges.
According to reports, the fresh charges include defrauding by false pretences, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
Reports disclosed that in court on Tuesday, state prosecutors applied to withdraw the old charge sheet to pave the way for the new one.
However, Wontumi’s lawyers requested an adjournment, arguing that the new charge sheet had been served only on the morning of the hearing.
The case has since been adjourned to October 13.
Earlier, the Accra High Court had ordered the prosecution to file disclosures within 14 days after plea bargain negotiations in Chairman Wontumi’s alleged GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud case ended without an agreement.
Reports disclosed that the negotiations ended after the State rejected a proposal put forward by Wontumi’s legal team.
Following the failure to reach an agreement, the Accra High Court ordered the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days.
The disclosure process requires the prosecution to provide the defence with the evidence and documents it intends to rely on at trial.
Wontumi’s alleged GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud case will now move forward, with the prosecution expected to file its disclosures within 14 days.
Also, Dr Justice Srem Sai, the Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, revealed that Chairman Wontumi’s EXIM Bank trial will continue despite ongoing settlement negotiations.
According to the Deputy AG, negotiations have not been abandoned, but the government has decided not to suspend the trial.
Speaking in an interview on Morning Starr, Dr Srem Sai stated, “We, as prosecutors, have decided to proceed with the trial while we continue negotiations on the side”.
He disclosed that the decision was communicated to Wontumi’s lawyers after two meetings between the parties, adding that ongoing negotiations had not produced an agreement acceptable to the state.
The Deputy Attorney General also revealed that a GH¢12 million settlement proposal falls significantly below what the bank expects to recover.
According to Srem Sai, accepting an amount substantially below the alleged losses would not be prudent, particularly after assessing the evidence and circumstances surrounding the case.
He disclosed that the government does not believe it would be appropriate to accept less than half of the losses allegedly caused simply to allow the accused to walk free.
“The 12 million you mentioned, if indeed he said that, then 12 million is far below what even the bank expects to get,” he said.
“They know what to do if they want that situation to change. We have told them what to do if they want that situation to change,” he said.
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