Accra: The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Wontumi, appeared before the Accra High Court for the third time over an alleged loan fraud involving his farming company.
According to Ghana Web, Wontumi is facing charges of fraud by false pretences, causing financial loss to a public body, money laundering, and authoring a forged document. The charges are connected to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of a GHS14.3 million loan from the Ghana Export-Import Bank between 2018 and 2022. Wontumi and his company, Wontumi Farms Ltd, have pleaded "not guilty" to all four counts.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai informed the court that Wontumi used a forged receipt, aware of its lack of authenticity, to secure an additional GHS4 million from the bank. Lead counsel Andy Appiah Kubi requested the court to uphold the bail conditions granted by the Economic and Organised Crime Office, emphasizing Wontumi's cooperation and adherence to all summons.
Appiah Kubi stated that Wontumi is a politician of repute and has complied with previous bail terms. Dr Srem-Sai did not contest the bail request, and presiding judge Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Basit approved the plea, allowing Wontumi to remain on the existing bail terms.
The court also instructed the prosecution to file disclosures in preparation for the Case Management Conference. The case has been adjourned to June 18, 2026.