The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has been granted bail by an Accra High Court after appearing before the court in connection with an alleged GH¢18.7 million fraud case involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM Bank).
Mr Boasiako, pleaded not guilty to charges including defrauding by false pretences, uttering forged documents, money laundering and causing financial loss to a public institution.
The court, presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit, maintained the existing bail conditions previously granted to him after the prosecution indicated it had no objection to the application.
Lead counsel for Mr Boasiako, Mr Andy Appiah-Kubi, urged the court to uphold the bail conditions set by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), stating that his client had consistently cooperated with investigators and honoured all invitations from state institutions.
Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai also confirmed that the NPP chairman had complied with all previous bail conditions and had consistently appeared before the court.
According to the prosecution, Mr Boasiako and Wontumi Farms allegedly secured a financial facility from the Ghana Export-Import Bank in 2018 for a proposed large-scale farming project.
The prosecution alleged that the accused presented documents claiming that a 100,000-acre land had been secured for the project and that thousands of people would be employed under the initiative.
However, investigations reportedly revealed that the farming project was never executed, no agricultural machinery was purchased and the land referenced in the proposal was neither owned nor secured by the accused persons.
The prosecution further alleged that a document submitted as proof of machinery purchase had been altered from a pro-forma invoice into a receipt to facilitate further disbursement of funds.
State prosecutors also claimed that some of the funds withdrawn from the company’s accounts were allegedly used for personal expenses and investments unrelated to the farming project.
The case, involving Mr Boasiako, Wontumi Farms and one Thomas Antwi Boasiako has been adjourned to June 18, 2026.
