Dr. Nana Yaw Adutwum, Head of Research for the United Party, has described the plea bargain proposed by Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, in the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) case as a strategic opportunity for the state to recover lost resources.
His comments follow the disclosure at the Accra High Court that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman is seeking a plea bargain in the ongoing criminal case involving alleged fraud linked to EXIM Bank.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Saturday, June 13, Dr. Adutwum urged the government to consider the proposal, arguing that the primary objective should be the recovery of state resources.
“The state must prioritise getting its resources back so that it can be plugged into the development of our country. The plea bargain, I think, is a more strategic approach to leveraging the resources we have lost. I’m told he’s willing to pay the loan back with some compensation. We should put our country first,” he said.
Dr. Adutwum noted that in several previous high-profile cases, the state had struggled to recover funds allegedly lost through wrongdoing, making the plea bargain option worthy of consideration.
However, he clarified that his support for a plea bargain should not be interpreted as advocacy for a non-custodial sentence.
“I’m not advocating a non-custodial sentence for Wontumi; that is the discretion of the Attorney-General,” he stated.
The plea bargain request is currently under consideration as legal proceedings in the EXIM Bank case continue.
Background
The case before the High Court in Accra lists Bernard Antwi-Boasiako as the first accused person, alongside Thomas Antwi-Boasiako—who is currently at large—and Wontumi Farms Limited. The Attorney-General is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the state.
The notification, signed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, was submitted to the court registry for the attention of the presiding judge.
Prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2022, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako fraudulently obtained GH¢14,302,000 from EXIM Bank through false pretences, using Wontumi Farms Limited as the vehicle for the transaction.
The charge sheet further states that Chairman Wontumi allegedly presented a forged receipt to EXIM Bank officials, which was used to support an additional GH¢4 million facility.
He is also accused of knowingly benefiting from funds alleged to have been fraudulently obtained, forming the basis of a money laundering charge.
In addition, the prosecution claims the accused persons caused financial loss exceeding GH¢30 million to EXIM Bank through the transactions in question.
The court is expected to take further steps as it considers the plea bargain notification and the parties proceed with negotiations under the relevant legal framework.
