Former New Patriotic Party Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and Wontumi Farms have filed a High Court suit seeking a declaration that the criminal case arising from a Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) loan dispute is a civil matter, Citi Newsroom reported on 8 October 2026.
The suit names Ghana Exim Bank, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Attorney General as defendants. It follows a criminal case in which the plaintiffs face alleged offences including defrauding by false pretences, uttering a forged document, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to the state, according to the report.
The plaintiffs, represented by Samuel Atta-Akyea, argue that the dispute is essentially a civil debt that has been treated as a criminal case, and that EOCO has acted beyond its mandate by assuming the role of a debt collector, Citi Newsroom reported.
They are also asking the court to order Ghana Exim Bank to account for the outstanding amount on the loan, which they say should be repaid under the loan agreement.
In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs say a loan of more than GH¢18 million was obtained to finance a farming project. They say a 10,000-acre parcel of land owned by Wontumi Farms was mortgaged as security, that Chairman Wontumi personally guaranteed repayment, and that Ghana Exim Bank agreed to secure insurance for the loan, according to the outlet.
The plaintiffs say the farm project was unsuccessful and that, after a maize harvest, flooding from rivers around the farm destroyed the farmland and caused significant losses. They say Exim Bank was informed and allegedly promised to activate insurance to cover the outstanding loan.
They maintain the loan was legitimately obtained and that there was no deceit or criminal conduct. They want the matter remitted to the civil courts and for Exim Bank to recover any outstanding sum through the mortgage, the personal guarantee, or the insurance cover allegedly secured by the bank, Citi Newsroom reported.
Mr Antwi Boasiako remains an accused person in the related criminal proceedings unless and until a court rules otherwise. GhanaCrimes has also published a matching report on the civil filing.