Bernard Antwi-Boasiako Faces Refiled Charges in GH¢30 Million Exim Bank Fraud Case

The Accra High Court has adjourned the legal proceedings against Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to October 13, 2026. This decision follows the state's move to refile and amend charges against the prominent New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure regarding an alleged GH¢30 million fraud involving the Ghana Exim Bank. The prosecution, led by Lawyer Joshua Sackey, introduced the new charge sheet on September 22, 2026, after negotiations for a plea deal between the state and the accused reportedly collapsed.

The amended charges center on allegations of defrauding by false pretences, money laundering, and uttering forged documents. Specifically, the prosecution alleges that Antwi-Boasiako used a forged pro-forma invoice from a company identified as EPSONS GHANA LIMITED in 2017 to illegally secure GH¢4 million from Exim Bank. The broader case, which was initially brought to court in May 2026, contends that the bank suffered a total financial loss of approximately GH¢30 million between 2018 and 2022 due to the defendant's actions.

During the Tuesday hearing, the prosecution expressed its intention to withdraw the previous charge sheet filed on May 15, 2026, in favor of the newly served documents. Counsel for the first and third accused persons, Lawyer Nana Nti Ofori-Debrah, requested additional time from the court to thoroughly review the amended charges, noting that the defense team had only recently been served with the new particulars. The court granted this request to ensure a fair trial, deferring further proceedings to the next adjourned date in October.

The case against the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving political figures from the previous administration. As the legal team for Antwi-Boasiako prepares their defense against the refiled charges, the outcome of the proceedings is expected to have significant implications for corporate governance and the oversight of state-linked financial institutions like the Ghana Exim Bank. The upcoming October hearing will likely see the formal withdrawal of the old charges and the commencement of the trial under the new charge sheet.