Plea negotiations resume in Wontumi's Exim Bank case as Atta Akyea takes over

Plea bargain discussions in the EXIM Bank case involving Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, are set to continue after a change in his legal team.

Former Akyem Abuakwa South MP Samuel Atta Akyea has now assumed responsibility as lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi.

He informed the High Court on Monday, July 27, that Andy Appiah-Kubi, who had previously led the defence, had withdrawn his services.

After announcing his appearance, Mr Atta Akyea immediately turned the court’s attention to the ongoing plea negotiations with the Attorney-General.

He said he had conferred with Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem-Sai and believed the parties could resume discussions toward a possible settlement.

Mr Atta Akyea asked for an adjournment to October, saying the defence needed enough time to work through the terms of the proposed bargain.

Chairman Wontumi is facing charges including defrauding by false pretences, forgery and money laundering in relation to an alleged GH¢30 million EXIM Bank loan transaction.

Dr Srem-Sai confirmed that plea discussions had already been taking place before the latest developments.

He explained that the talks were disrupted by Chairman Wontumi’s conviction and sentencing in the separate Samreboi mining case.

According to him, the State was not opposed to giving the parties more time, especially because disclosures had not yet been filed.

He, however, asked the court to grant a shorter extension of 30 days instead of the 90 days proposed by the defence.

“We've already done some work with the previous counsel and I believe we can pick up from there,” Dr Srem-Sai said.

He added that plea bargaining could legally continue alongside the trial process, but said the advanced state of the negotiations made it necessary to attempt a conclusion before disclosures were filed.

The Deputy Attorney-General said the State wanted to avoid a situation where disclosure of prosecution material would prejudice negotiations that were already far advanced.

The presiding judge noted that the court had earlier ordered the parties to return with an update on the plea negotiation process.

She said because the earlier 30-day period had expired without a final agreement, the court would record the negotiations as having failed at that stage.

The court, however, adjourned the case to August 27, 2026, for further directions.

The adjournment gives the new defence team and the prosecution room to determine whether the plea bargain process can still produce an agreement before the case moves further into trial.