The High Court has adjourned proceedings in the GH¢30 million EXIM Bank case involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, and other accused persons to July 6, 2026, to allow ongoing plea bargain negotiations between the defence and the Attorney-General’s Office to continue.
The adjournment follows a joint request by both parties after they initiated discussions aimed at reaching a possible settlement of the case outside the full trial process.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, counsel for the accused persons, explained that both the prosecution and the defence considered it appropriate for the court to grant additional time for the negotiations to progress.
According to him, the law provides parties with a 30-day window to engage in plea bargaining discussions once the process has commenced.
He said the decision to seek an adjournment was therefore in line with legal procedures and intended to create the necessary room for meaningful engagement between the parties.
“Both the Attorney-General and counsel for the accused persons agree that since we have initiated plea negotiations, it is only prudent for the court to grant an adjournment for us to update the court on developments,” Appiah-Kubi said.
He disclosed that the parties have agreed to return to court on July 6 to provide an update on the progress made and indicate any outstanding issues that may need to be addressed before a formal plea agreement can be filed.
The defence lawyer expressed confidence that the discussions are moving in a positive direction and could yield results before the next hearing date.
He noted that the attitude of both legal teams and the general atmosphere surrounding the negotiations suggest that an agreement may be reached within a relatively short period.
Appiah-Kubi said he remains hopeful that by the time the matter returns to court, significant progress would have been made, paving the way for a possible resolution of the case.
“The mood of the court and the predisposition of counsel on both sides suggest that we will be able to reach an agreement quickly and file a plea agreement that will bring the matter to finality,” he stated.
The plea bargaining process, if successful, could potentially shorten the legal proceedings and provide an alternative resolution mechanism acceptable to both the prosecution and the accused persons.
The case, which centres on an alleged GH¢30 million EXIM Bank-related matter, has drawn considerable public interest due to the profile of the accused and its political significance.
As negotiations continue behind closed doors, attention will now turn to the July 6 hearing, where both parties are expected to inform the court of the progress made and the next steps in the process.
For now, the court has effectively paused further proceedings to allow the parties to focus on reaching a mutually acceptable agreement, a development that could ultimately determine the future direction of the case.
SOURCE: MAVIS FANTEVI, JEFFERY MAWUTOR ATTIPOE-COURT CORRESPONDENT
