Attorney-general alleges Chairman Wontumi forged receipt in Exim Bank loan case

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has accused Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, of allegedly forging a receipt to support a false claim that farming and earth-moving equipment worth GH₵4 million had been purchased with funds from a Ghana Exim Bank loan.

Speaking to the media in Accra on December 22, Dr. Ayine said Wontumi Farms Limited presented a document it described as proof of payment for equipment allegedly procured from Kas-Sama Enterprise.

However, investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) revealed that the document was originally an invoice and not a receipt, and had been deliberately altered to deceive the bank.

According to the Attorney-General, Chairman Wontumi obtained the invoice on the assurance that he would return to complete the purchase of the equipment, but never did. Instead, he allegedly removed the word “invoice” from the document and replaced it with “receipt.”

Dr. Ayine further disclosed that the owner of Kas-Sama Enterprise confirmed no payment was ever made. He noted that the document still contained conditions such as “50 days to supply,” which clearly indicated it was a proforma invoice rather than proof of payment.

The Attorney-General said the state will prosecute Wontumi Farms Limited and its directors for alleged fraud against Exim Bank, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state amounting to more than GH₵24 million.

“These are not simple contractual breaches,” Dr. Ayine stressed, adding that the acts constitute criminal conduct involving a high-profile political figure.

He explained that the decision to proceed with prosecution followed extensive EOCO investigations that uncovered sufficient evidence against the company and its directors.

Dr. Ayine disclosed that the total financial loss stands at GH₵24,225,735, comprising the principal loan amount and accumulated interest.