Kumasi: Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has linked the legal challenges involving the Ghana Export-Import (Exim) Bank to natural disasters. In an interview with Asaasepa Radio, Wontumi addressed allegations concerning his request for a plea bargain, attributing the collapse of his farm project to unavoidable natural causes rather than any misappropriation.
According to Ghana Web, Wontumi explained that he had secured funds from the bank in 2018 to develop a commercial farm in Sekyere. He emphasized that the loan process was transparent, involving collateral and insurance as directed by the bank. Despite these precautions, he claimed that heavy rains destroyed the maize farm, an event beyond his control.
Wontumi highlighted that his company was recognized as the first runner-up in the 2018 national Farmers' Day celebration, underscoring the project's scale and intent. He reiterated his adherence to due process, dismissing any accusations of impropriety in securing the loan.
The charge sheet filed on May 15, 2026, alleges that Wontumi obtained GHS14.3 million from Exim Bank after applying for GHS18.7 million on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited. The funds were intended for a large-scale farming initiative that failed to come to fruition as planned. Wontumi, his relative Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, and Wontumi Farms Limited face charges including defrauding by false pretences, forgery, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution.
He insisted that the loan was obtained through legitimate banking procedures, emphasizing the necessity to correct any misconceptions about the process.
The state further alleges document forgery, questionable equipment purchases, and misallocation of funds into personal investments, leading to losses exceeding GHS30 million. Wontumi has pleaded not guilty and has sought a plea bargain through his legal team, a development the Attorney-General's office has acknowledged in court.