
The criminal trial of Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman, and two other individuals, has concluded. The court is scheduled to deliver its judgment on July 3, 2026. This development was announced by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai on June 3, following court proceedings. Dr. Srem-Sai stated that the defense concluded its case after its fifth and final witness completed testimony and was discharged by the court, marking the end of the legal proceedings. With both the prosecution and defense having presented their cases, the focus now shifts to the final verdict, which is anticipated to draw considerable public and political attention due to Chairman Wontumi's significant role within the NPP and Ghanaian politics.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.

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Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, announced that no plea agreement has been reached in the criminal case involving New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, and two others. The statutory 30-day period for concluding plea bargain negotiations in the case is set to expire next week. Dr Srem-Sai confirmed this on his Facebook page on Saturday, July 18, 2026, stating that despite the ongoing process, an agreement has not been finalized. He did not provide further details on the negotiations or the next steps if no agreement is reached by the deadline. Wontumi and two others face charges related to an alleged scheme that caused significant financial loss to the Ghana Export-Import Bank. Court documents indicate the accused are alleged to have defrauded the bank of approximately GH垄14.3 million to GH垄30 million through actions including presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution. Wontumi's legal team initiated the plea-bargaining process, which was formally communicated to the court in June 2026. Both parties sought time to explore a potential settlement under Ghana's plea-bargaining framework. Wontumi, Wontumi Farms Limited, and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako have pleaded not guilty to the charges. The case stems from events around 2018 involving a loan or facility from EXIM Bank. The court had previously adjourned the matter to allo