AG pounces on Chairman Wontumi again

Even as an alleged illegal mining case involving Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, awaits determination at the High Court, the state has uncovered fresh allegations accusing him of defrauding the state of over GH¢24 million through the Ghana Exim Bank.

At the same Government Accountability Series, where the disclosure was made, the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, also announced impending criminal charges against Percival Kofi Akpaloo, leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), over an alleged GH¢3.17 million cheque diversion and forgery scheme, linked to a Ghana Cocoa Board contract.

Addressing the media in Accra on Tuesday, Dr. Dominic Ayine revealed that investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) had established that Wuntumi Farms Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Chairman Wontumi, obtained a Ghana Exim Bank loan of GH¢24,265,735 under false pretences.

According to the Attorney-General, the loan was approved to support agricultural expansion, including the purchase of machinery, working capital, staff costs and consultancy services, subject to strict pre-disbursement conditions.

These included the execution of an equitable mortgage over project land, valuation reports, lease agreements over equipment, and proof of supply contracts with the National Buffer Stock Company.

Investigations, however, revealed that Wuntumi Farms Limited failed to satisfy these conditions but nonetheless accessed the funds.

The Attorney-General disclosed that GH¢400,000 earmarked for staff salaries was withdrawn in cash, despite the absence of any farm workers, with investigators finding that no employment was ever created at the project site.

He further alleged that forged receipts were submitted to the Exim Bank to support claims that farm equipment worth GH¢4 million had been purchased.

EOCO investigations established that the receipts were altered from a pro forma invoice issued by Kasama Enterprise and that the equipment was never supplied.

Machines found on the farm were described as obsolete, non-functional equipment manufactured in the 1970s and not registered under the required joint ownership arrangement.

Describing the conduct as a “deliberate scheme to defraud the state,” Dr. Ayine said the farming project never materialised and the promised youth employment in the Ashanti Region failed to occur.

The state, he said, intends to charge Wuntumi Farms Limited and its director with defrauding by false pretence, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state, warning that the GH¢24.26 million figure, representing principal and accrued interest, could increase before formal charges are filed.

“This is not a mere contractual breach. These are acts of criminality,” the Attorney-General stressed.

In a separate but related disclosure, Dr. Ayine announced that the state is preparing charges against Percival Kofi Akpaloo over an alleged cheque diversion scheme uncovered following a Suspicious Transaction Report filed by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).

He explained that Poma Universal Ghana Limited, wholly owned by Ekua Poma, was legitimately awarded a GH¢29.5 million Cocoa Board contract in December 2020.

While the project initially progressed smoothly, investigations revealed that Mr. Akpaloo allegedly incorporated a second company with a nearly identical name, differing only by the addition of the letter “H”.

Between December 2022 and June 2024, Mr Akpaloo allegedly collected eight Cocoa Board cheques totalling GH¢3,169,432.22 issued in the name of the original contractor and deposited them into the account of the second company, at First Bank Ghana Limited, without the knowledge or consent of the rightful beneficiary.

The alleged diversion came to light in June 2024 after Cocoa Board queried outstanding balances.

An internal bank investigation confirmed the misrepresentation and acknowledged lapses in detecting discrepancies between cheque payees and account details.

The Attorney-General said suspects in the Cocoa Board case include Percival Kofi Akpaloo, the altered-name company and his spouse with charges expected to include stealing, forgery and money laundering.

Prosecution is set to commence after the Christmas holidays.

 

 

 

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