Accra: Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has announced that no plea agreement has been reached in the ongoing criminal case involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, and two others. This case involves allegations related to the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank.
According to Ghana Web, Dr. Srem-Sai shared via a Facebook post on Saturday, July 18, 2026, that the statutory 30-day period designated for finalizing plea bargain negotiations in the case will expire next week. Despite ongoing discussions, no agreement has been achieved between the involved parties.
Dr. Srem-Sai mentioned, "The statutory 30-day period for concluding the plea bargain in The Republic v Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and 2 Others (the Exim Bank trial) will end next week. I can confirm that we have not reached a plea agreement yet." He did not provide additional information regarding the negotiations' status or the potential steps if the deadline passes without an agreement.
The charges against Wontumi and the two others pertain to an alleged scheme that resulted in a significant financial loss to the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. Court documents and reports suggest that the accused defrauded the bank of approximately GHS14.3 million to GHS30 million through actions such as presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution.
Wontumi's legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, initiated the plea-bargaining process by contacting the Attorney General's office. This request was formally presented to the court earlier in June 2026. Both parties have jointly sought additional time to explore a potential settlement under Ghana's plea-bargaining framework, which might involve a guilty plea in exchange for reduced charges, repayment with interest, or other conditions.
In the meantime, Wontumi, along with Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is reportedly on the run, have pleaded not guilty to the charges when the case first appeared before the court on May 18, 2026. The case originates from events around 2018 involving a loan or facility from EXIM Bank.
On June 18, 2026, the court, presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, had previously adjourned the matter to allow for initial plea discussions.