Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi
The convicted Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been given another 30 days to conclude a plea bargain agreement with the Office of the Attorney General in respect of a trial in which he is accused of causing GH¢30 million financial loss to a public body.
The extension of time was primarily due to Chairman Wontumi changing his legal team by appointing Samuel Atta-Akyea, following a decision by his previous lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, to withdraw his service.
Mr. Atta-Akyea yesterday urged the court to adjourn the case to October to allow the new team and the Attorney General “do a reasonable plea bargaining.”
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, did not oppose the request for the adjournment but opposed the October date suggested by the defence counsel, while suggesting a 30-day window.
“Considering that we are yet to file disclosures and although the disclosures may not prejudice the plea negotiations, we will side with our friend on the other side for enlargement of time, except that we will pray for 30 days instead of the 90 days our learned friend is proposing,” he said.
He added that the prosecution has already had some conversations with the previous counsel “and I believe we can pick it from there.”
The presiding judge, Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Bassit, pointed out that the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), contemplates a withdrawal or a rejection of a plea bargain within 30 days, and in such cases, the matter may proceed to trial.
Dr. Srem-Sai agreed but pointed out that his Office had received an offer from Chairman Wontumi and his legal team, and the prosecution has made a counter offer “which were supposed to conclude with last week before the accused person’s conviction in another matter derailed the negotiation.”
He said the law allows the bargain to run concurrently with the trial, but noted that the peculiar nature of this case – the fact that the negotiation was nearing conclusion when Chairman Wontumi was convicted and jailed 20 years for allowing others to mine on his company’s concession without approval from the sector minister.
This, he said, resulted in “our inability to sit with him and his counsel last week. We believe that a new counsel would pick up from where we left off with the previous counsel.”
Dr. Srem-Sai added that in order not to let disclosures, which the prosecution is yet file, not prejudice the plea negotiations which is far advanced, “we would pray that my Lady accepts our waiver of the right to continue with proceedings and rather take a short adjournment to attempt concluding the negotiations before being directed to file our disclosures.”
Justice Abdul-Bassit adjourned the case to August 27 for further direction.
Trial
Chairman Wontumi is facing trial for allegedly causing GH¢30 million financial loss to a public body in the course of a business transaction with Ghana Export-Import Bank (Ghana EXIM Bank).
Wontumi, who is already standing trial in two different courts over mining related offences, is accused of obtaining GH¢14,302,000 from the bank under false pretences.
He is further accused of using a forged receipt, knowing that the same is not genuine, to obtain about GH¢4,000,000 from the bank in 2018.
Charged alongside him are Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is on the run, and his company, Wontumi Farms Limited.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail by the court, presided over by Justice Halima Abdul El-Lawal Bassit on May 18, 2026.
Plea Bargain
His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, initiated the plea negotiation by writing to the Attorney General in a letter dated June 5, 2026, in respect of the charges levelled against him.
A notification of commencement of plea negotiation has since been filed by the Deputy Attorney General in accordance with Section 162C(3) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), for the court’s attention as the Attorney General and the defence iron out the terms of the plea negotiation.
If the plea negotiation succeeds, Chairman Wontumi could see the reduction of the possible punishment he could face, while he would also be made to repay the money lost by the state, as well as pay compensation to the state.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak