Dr. Nana Yaw Adutwum, Head of Research for the United Party, has described the plea bargain proposed by Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi) in the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) fraud case as a strategic opportunity for the state to recover lost public resources.
His comments follow the disclosure at the Accra High Court that the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman is seeking a plea bargain in the ongoing criminal case.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Dr. Adutwum urged the government to consider the proposal, stressing that the primary goal should be the recovery of funds for national development.
“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 misappropriated funds, making the plea bargain route potentially beneficial. However, he clarified that his position does not amount to advocating 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.
Case Background
The case before the Accra High Court lists Bernard Antwi-Boasiako as the first accused, 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.
Prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2022, the accused persons fraudulently obtained GH¢14.3 million from EXIM Bank through false pretences using Wontumi Farms Limited. They are also accused of securing an additional GH¢4 million facility using a forged receipt, money laundering, and causing financial loss exceeding GH¢30 million to the bank.
The court is expected to take further steps as it considers the plea bargain notification and the parties engage in negotiations under the relevant legal framework.
