Attorney-General Details Alleged Corruption Case Involving Chairman Wontumi at Government Accountability Series
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has briefed the public on alleged corruption cases involving the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and businessman Percival Kofi Akpaloo.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 22, Dr Ayine outlined findings from investigations into a loan transaction involving Wontumi Farms Limited and the Ghana Exim Bank.
According to the Attorney-General, in December 2017, Wontumi Farms Limited applied for a loan of GH¢18 million, claiming the funds were intended for the cultivation of maize on 100,000 acres of land and to provide employment opportunities for the youth.
However, investigations revealed that at the time the loan application was submitted—along with a purported board resolution—the company had not yet been registered and therefore did not legally exist. Dr Ayine disclosed that Wontumi Farms Limited was incorporated on December 14, 2017, and issued a certificate to commence business on the same day.
He further explained that as part of the loan process, the company submitted a proforma invoice to Exim Bank on December 15, 2017, for the purchase of farm equipment, including tractors, combine harvesters, corn seeder machines and Wellington boots.
Following the disbursement of the loan, Exim Bank requested proof that the equipment had been purchased. On March 18, 2018, Chairman Wontumi reportedly submitted a document described as a receipt from Kas-Sama Enterprise, indicating payment of GH¢4 million for the equipment.
However, the Attorney-General said investigations uncovered discrepancies in the document. The items listed on the so-called receipt included a bulldozer and an excavator—equipment not consistent with the original farming proposal.
“Our investigations established that Chairman Wontumi had approached Kas-Sama Enterprise, an industrial equipment dealer, and obtained an invoice with a promise to return to purchase the equipment,” Dr Ayine said. “He never went back to purchase the equipment. Instead, he forged the invoice by removing the word ‘invoice’ and replacing it with ‘receipt’ before submitting it to Exim Bank as proof of purchase.”
Dr Ayine added that the owner of Kas-Sama Enterprise confirmed to investigators that only an invoice—not a receipt—was issued to Wontumi Farms Limited, and that no payment was ever received.
The Attorney-General further noted that the document submitted to the bank contained terms such as “50 days to supply” and “one-year guarantee and service,” indicating it was in fact a proforma invoice rather than evidence of payment.
Dr Ayine said investigations into the matter are ongoing, and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the probe
