The High Court in Accra has directed that the criminal case against former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, proceed after plea-bargaining negotiations between the defence and the State failed.

The decision follows an earlier directive by the court allowing both sides additional time to explore the possibility of reaching a plea agreement in the alleged EXIM Bank fraud case.

Chairman Wontumi is facing charges over an alleged fraud involving financing secured from the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) for a farming project.

The prosecution alleges that he made false representations to obtain the facility and subsequently failed to undertake the proposed farming project as represented.

According to the State, EXIM Bank approved a facility of about GH¢18.7 million for Wontumi Farms Limited, of which more than GH¢14.3 million was reportedly disbursed.

Investigators further allege that the funds were not utilised for the purposes for which they were obtained.

Wontumi has been charged alongside Wontumi Farms Limited and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who is reportedly at large. The charges include causing financial loss to the state.

The parties had previously indicated that negotiations towards a plea agreement were progressing.

At a hearing on July 27, the prosecution told the court that it had received a proposal from the defence and subsequently responded with a counter-offer.

During the same hearing, Samuel Atta Akyea formally assumed the position of lead counsel for Wontumi, replacing Andy Appiah-Kubi.

The court then granted the parties an additional 30 days to conclude the negotiations and adjourned the case to August 27, 2026.

The plea-bargaining discussions took place against the backdrop of Wontumi’s conviction and 20-year prison sentence in a separate illegal-mining case.

With the negotiations having failed, the High Court has now ordered the substantive EXIM Bank case to continue.

The court has adjourned the matter to September 22, 2026, for a case management conference and directed the prosecution to file and serve its disclosures on the accused persons within 14 days.