Court Gives Wontumi 30 Days to Finalise GH¢30 Million EXIM Bank Plea Deal
The High Court adjourns the case to August 27 after both prosecution and defence confirm that negotiations are nearing completion despite delays caused by Wontumi’s recent conviction.
- High Court grants a 30-day extension for plea bargain negotiations
- Samuel Atta Akyea replaces Andy Appiah-Kubi as Wontumi’s lead counsel
- Talks were delayed following Wontumi’s 20-year prison sentence in a separate illegal mining case
The High Court in Accra has granted the prosecution and defence an additional 30 days to conclude plea bargain negotiations in the GH¢30 million alleged fraud case involving NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
The case, which was heard on Monday before Justice Halima El-Alawa Abdul Baasit, has been adjourned to August 27, 2026, after both sides informed the court that negotiations were at an advanced stage.
During proceedings, veteran lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea officially took over as lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi, replacing Andy Appiah-Kubi. He told the court that discussions with Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, had given him confidence that the matter could be resolved through plea bargaining.
Atta Akyea requested a longer adjournment until October to allow sufficient time for the parties to reach an agreement.
However, Dr. Srem-Sai agreed that more time was needed but proposed a 30-day extension instead. He explained that both sides had already exchanged offers and counteroffers before negotiations were interrupted by Chairman Wontumi’s recent conviction in a separate illegal mining case.
According to the Deputy Attorney-General, the prosecution had intended to conclude the discussions last week, but Wontumi’s conviction and subsequent 20-year prison sentence over illegal mining activities in Samreboi prevented further meetings.
He also disclosed that the prosecution had delayed filing its disclosures to avoid affecting the ongoing plea negotiations and expressed confidence that the new defence lawyer would continue discussions from where the previous counsel left off.
Although Atta Akyea maintained his request for a longer adjournment, the court ruled that plea bargaining should proceed within the legal framework while trial preparations continue and granted the 30-day extension.
Chairman Wontumi, who is currently serving a prison sentence following his conviction in the illegal mining case, remains on trial alongside two others over an alleged GH¢30 million transaction involving the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank.
