The state has refiled charges against former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, after plea negotiations between his lawyers and prosecutors collapsed.
Wontumi is accused of defrauding Ghana Exim Bank of more than GHC14 million and causing financial loss to the state estimated at GHC30 million.
The fresh charges filed on Tuesday, September 22, include defrauding by false pretences, uttering a forged document, money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
Wontumi was first arraigned on May 18, 2026, after which his legal team, initially led by Andy Appiah Kubi and later by Samuel Atta Akyea, entered plea discussions with the prosecution.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai said on July 27 that the negotiations were “far advanced”, but the parties failed to reach an agreement.
At Tuesday’s hearing, state prosecutors applied to withdraw the previous charge sheet to pave the way for the new charges.
However, Wontumi’s lawyers requested an adjournment, arguing that the new charge sheet had been served on them only on the morning of the hearing.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to October 13.
