Accra, Oct. 13, GNA – Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, has pleaded not guilty to fresh charges in a GH¢30 million alleged fraud case involving the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank).
His counsel, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea, however, described the case as a civil debt matter when he spoke to journalists at the Law Court Complex on Tuesday.
Mr Boasiako, a former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), faces charges of defrauding by false pretences, two counts of uttering forged documents, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
He is standing trial alongside Mr Thomas Antwi Boasiako, who is at large, and Wontumi Farms Limited.
When the case was called at the High Court, the prosecution, led by Reverend Joshua Sackey, a Principal State Attorney, applied to withdraw the charge sheet filed in May 2026 and replace it with a new one filed on September 22, 2026.
The defence did not oppose the application, and the fresh charges were read to Mr Boasiako, who denied them.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Boasiako falsely obtained GH¢14.3 million from EXIM Bank.
In 2018, he allegedly used forged receipts to obtain GH¢4 million from the bank and presented a forged pro forma invoice purportedly from Ephson’s Ghana Limited.
He is also accused of taking possession of GH¢14.3 million from Wontumi Farms and causing financial loss of GH¢30 million to the state.
The prosecution said investigations established that the farming project for which the funds were provided was not executed and that the required agricultural inputs for the maize project were not purchased.
The prosecution further alleged that Mr Boasiako used the funds for personal purposes.
The court adjourned the case to October 27 for a Case Management Conference and directed the prosecution to file and serve the relevant documents.
Mr Boasiako is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Joyce Danso
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