Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has asked Ghana’s Attorney-General for a plea bargain in the multimillion-cedi Ghana Exim Bank case in which he is accused of fraud, theft and causing substantial financial losses to the state.
The development could prove pivotal in one of Ghana’s most closely watched financial crime cases, with the Attorney-General now having to decide whether a negotiated settlement would better serve the public interest than continuing with a full trial.
A letter from the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice, addressed to the High Court in Accra, disclosed that the request was submitted through Wontumi’s lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, in a letter dated 5 June 2026.
The Attorney-General’s letter, dated 11 June 2026 and signed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai, informed the court of the latest development.
Wontumi faces multiple allegations
Chairman Wontumi has been standing trial since last year over allegations that he defrauded the Ghana Exim Bank of GH¢14.3 million, stole GH¢4 million through the alleged use of forged documents, and caused financial losses amounting to GH¢30 million to the state-owned bank.
His request for a plea bargain marks a significant turning point in the case and has already sparked debate among legal commentators and supporters of the government’s anti-corruption drive.
What a plea bargain could mean
A plea bargain typically involves an accused person admitting guilt and agreeing to negotiated terms, which may include restitution or other conditions. Any agreement, however, must be considered and approved by the Attorney-General and the court in accordance with the law.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has the discretion to accept or reject the proposal after considering whether its terms adequately protect the public interest and the interests of the state.
At this stage, there has been no indication that the request has been approved.
Barker-Vormawor calls for full recovery with 100% interest
Private legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor has urged the Attorney-General to consider accepting the plea bargain only if it guarantees the recovery of the full amount allegedly lost, together with a 100% interest surcharge.
“That’s a balanced and standardised approach, which can be defended at all times. So that everyone knows that as for ORAL, if we catch you, you go pay 100% interest,” he wrote on social media.
Kwaku Azar says the request shows ORAL is working
Another lawyer, Professor Kwaku Asare, widely known as Kwaku Azar and a vocal supporter of the government’s Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) initiative, also weighed in on the development.
According to him, the reported plea bargain request demonstrates that the anti-corruption initiative is producing results despite public criticism from some quarters.
“By day, they deliver funeral rites for ORAL. By night, they sit across the table negotiating with it,” the US-based lawyer wrote on social media.
What happens next?
The Attorney-General is expected to review the proposal and determine whether the terms offered by the accused are in the best interests of the state.
If the proposal is accepted, the case could move towards a negotiated resolution under the applicable legal framework. If it is rejected, the criminal trial will continue before the High Court.
The outcome is likely to be closely watched as it could shape public perceptions of accountability, asset recovery and the government’s broader anti-corruption agenda.
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