Former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and Wontumi Farms have gone to the High Court seeking to have the criminal case against them over an EXIM Bank loan treated as a civil dispute.
The application has been filed against Ghana Export-Import Bank, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Attorney General.
Wontumi and the company are facing criminal charges linked to an alleged loss of about GH¢30 million to EXIM Bank. The charges include defrauding by false pretences, uttering a forged document, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
In their latest application, the plaintiffs argue that the disagreement centres on the repayment of a loan and should therefore be resolved through civil proceedings rather than criminal prosecution.
They are also asking the court to direct EXIM Bank to account for the outstanding amount and pursue recovery through the security attached to the facility, including a mortgage over a 10,000-acre parcel of land owned by Wontumi Farms.
According to their case, the farm obtained a loan exceeding GH¢18 million to finance its agricultural operations, with Wontumi personally guaranteeing the facility.
The plaintiffs say the farming venture suffered major losses after flooding destroyed the farm, despite what they described as a successful maize harvest.
They further claim that the bank had agreed to secure insurance for the loan and was informed of the losses suffered by the farm.
Wontumi and Wontumi Farms maintain that the loan was legitimately obtained and that there was no fraudulent conduct involved.
The application comes as the criminal proceedings remain before the High Court. The case has been adjourned to October 13, 2026, following the filing of an amended charge sheet by the prosecution.
