An Accra High Court has adjourned proceedings in the criminal case involving Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to July 6, 2026, to allow ongoing plea bargain negotiations between the defence and the Attorney-General's Office to continue.

The court directed both parties to return on the adjourned date to provide an update on the status of the discussions and indicate whether an agreement has been reached.

According to court documents, Chairman Wontumi is the sole shareholder and one of two directors of Wontumi Farms Limited, a company established in December 2017 to undertake agricultural production, processing and related commercial activities.

Prosecutors allege that in January 2018, the company applied to the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) for financial support amounting to GH¢19 million to undertake a large-scale farming project.

The prosecution contends that documents submitted in support of the application falsely indicated that the company had secured a 100,000-acre tract of land for the proposed venture. Investigators further claim that some of the accompanying documents, including a board resolution and project proposal, were dated before the company was legally registered.

The state alleges that between 2018 and 2022, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako obtained GH¢14.3 million from EXIM Bank through fraudulent representations made on behalf of Wontumi Farms Limited.

Prosecutors also claim that a forged receipt was later submitted to facilitate the approval of an additional GH¢4 million credit facility.

According to the prosecution, portions of the funds were diverted from their intended purpose and channelled into personal and unrelated business activities. Efforts by EXIM Bank to recover the money reportedly proved unsuccessful, with the alleged financial exposure in the case exceeding GH¢30 million.

The case stems from investigations launched by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in March 2025. Chairman Wontumi was subsequently arrested, questioned and formally charged in May 2026.

During proceedings, the Attorney-General's Office informed the court that the accused had initiated a formal process to explore a plea agreement under provisions of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022.

The request was submitted through his legal counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, in correspondence dated June 5, 2026.

Under Ghana's plea bargaining framework, an accused person may admit responsibility for lesser offences in exchange for reduced penalties, subject to approval by the court. Any agreement must also satisfy considerations relating to public interest, the strength of the prosecution's case and the recovery of state funds.

Chairman Wontumi has been charged with defrauding by false pretences, uttering forged documents, money laundering and causing financial loss to a public institution. He has denied all the allegations and entered a plea of not guilty.

He is standing trial alongside Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, who remains at large, as well as Wontumi Farms Limited.

The matter is expected to return before the court on July 6, when prosecutors and defence lawyers will indicate whether negotiations have yielded a settlement or if the case will proceed to full trial.