Plea deal collapses for NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Wontumi in GH¢30 million EXIM Bank fraud case

The Accra High Court has directed the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days, moving the case towards trial. Wontumi had been in negotiations for about a month, but prosecutors rejected his legal team's proposal, deeming it insufficient to address the State's concerns. Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai stated that the proposed payment was inadequate.

With the negotiations unsuccessful, the court has ordered the prosecution to provide evidence and documents to the defense, allowing Wontumi and his lawyers to prepare their case. Wontumi and his co-accused, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, have pleaded not guilty to four charges: defrauding by false pretence, forgery, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public institution. The prosecution alleges that between 2018 and 2022, the accused obtained approximately GH¢14.3 million from the Ghana Export-Import Bank via Wontumi Farms Limited for a farming project that was not undertaken.

The State also claims Wontumi submitted a forged receipt for an additional GH¢4 million credit facility. Both accused deny the allegations.