Several senior figures of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) were at the General Jurisdiction Division of the Accra High Court on Monday as proceedings resumed in the plea negotiation hearing involving the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Among those present were former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay, the party’s Director of Communications Richard Ahiagbah, Ofoase Ayirebi MP Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Akuapem North MP Sammy Awuku, former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and NPP flagbearer spokesperson Dennis Miracles Aboagye.
Their appearance in court underscores the importance the party attaches to the case, which involves allegations that Wontumi fraudulently obtained a GH₵14 million facility from the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank.
Prosecutors say the amount has since increased to about GH₵30 million due to accumulated interest.
Wontumi is currently pursuing a plea agreement with the prosecution. If approved by the court, the agreement could bring the case to an end without the need for a full trial.
The proceedings have drawn significant public and political interest, particularly because they come just days after Wontumi was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment in a separate illegal mining case.
That conviction is currently being challenged, with his legal team filing an appeal against both the verdict and the sentence.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the ongoing plea negotiations in the EXIM Bank case is expected to determine the next stage of the proceedings.
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