The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has revealed that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, allegedly pressured the Ghana Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) to release funds intended for farm workers who, investigations later found, did not exist.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on December 22, the Attorney-General explained that Wontumi Farms Limited was required to submit a database of farmhands to enable electronic salary payments under the Mining Alternative Livelihoods Initiative.
To facilitate the payments, EXIM Bank engaged Eban Capital Limited to develop a biometric payment platform for workers expected to be employed on a proposed maize farm at Asare Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region.
However, investigations revealed that the company failed to submit the required database because, according to findings, “there were no farmers working on the land.” Despite this, Chairman Wontumi allegedly demanded that GH₵400,000 earmarked for salaries be released directly to the company in cash.
“He claimed the youth involved in illegal mining were not used to electronic payment systems and preferred cash,” the Attorney-General said, describing the request as part of a wider pattern of misrepresentation.
Investigators confirmed that no farming activities took place and no workers were engaged, reinforcing findings that the loan facility was obtained under false pretences.
The Attorney-General disclosed that the state will proceed to prosecute Wontumi Farms Limited and its directors for alleged offences, including defrauding EXIM Bank, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state exceeding GH₵24 million.
“These are not mere breaches of a contract,” he said. “They constitute acts of criminality by no means a person other than the regional chairman of the then ruling party.”
He stated that the total financial loss currently stands at GH₵24,225,735, representing the principal loan amount and accrued interest.
Further investigations revealed that Wontumi Farms had secured a GH₵4 million loan from EXIM Bank using forged documents. Chairman Wontumi allegedly submitted a falsified receipt, purportedly issued by Casama Enterprise, to support the loan application.
The document claimed payment had been made for heavy-duty farming and industrial equipment, including bulldozers and excavators.
Findings by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) established that the document was not a genuine receipt but a proforma invoice. The word “invoice” was allegedly altered to read “receipt” before submission as proof of payment.
The owner of Casama Enterprise later confirmed that no payment had been received and that only a proforma invoice had been issued to Wontumi Ghana Limited. Despite assurances that the purchase would be completed, the transaction was never finalised, and the forged document falsely indicated that Casama Enterprise had received the full GH₵4 million.
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