The criminal case against former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, is set to progress to the next stage after efforts to resolve the matter through plea bargaining failed.

An Accra High Court has directed the prosecution to file its disclosures within 14 days to allow the case to proceed to a Case Management Conference (CMC).

The directive was issued on Thursday after the prosecution informed the court that negotiations with the defence had failed to produce an agreement.

Principal State Attorney Reverend Joshua Sackey told the court that the parties had exhausted their attempts to reach a settlement through the plea-bargaining process.

“We have not been able to reach an agreement in the plea bargaining. We seek the direction of the court to file our disclosures,” he said.

Counsel for Boasiako, Samuel Atta Akyea, indicated that the defence remained aware that plea bargaining could technically be pursued at different stages of the proceedings.

He explained that the continuation of the substantive case had not prevented the parties from exploring the option.

The trial judge, however, noted that plea-bargaining efforts had already failed twice and that the 30-day period allowed for the process had expired.

The court therefore ordered the state to proceed with filing its disclosures, setting the stage for the CMC scheduled for September 22, 2026.

The case was adjourned to that date, although Boasiako was absent from Thursday’s proceedings.

Boasiako is facing allegations relating to a loan facility obtained from the Export-Import Bank of Ghana (EXIM Bank) for a maize farming project.

The prosecution alleges that he secured an initial GH¢19 million facility for the cultivation of maize on 100 acres of land, but that the proposed project was never carried out.

It further alleges that documents were subsequently presented to support the purchase of agricultural machinery valued at about GH¢4 million.

According to the prosecution, the loan liability eventually rose to approximately GH¢30 million.

Boasiako is alleged to have committed the offences together with his associate, Thomas Antwi Boasiako, who remains at large.

The former NPP regional chairman, who is currently serving a prison sentence, has denied the allegations against him.

With plea-bargaining negotiations now unsuccessful, the prosecution’s disclosures are expected to provide the basis for the court to move the case towards substantive trial proceedings.