By: Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
The Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, has revealed details of what he describes as an alleged attempt by Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, to fraudulently secure an Exim Bank loan using a company that did not legally exist at the time of application and a document investigators say was forged.
Addressing the public at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, December 22, Dr Ayine disclosed that Wontumi Farms Limited applied in December 2017 for a GH¢18 million facility, claiming it intended to cultivate maize on 100,000 acres of land and create employment for the youth. However, investigations by the Attorney-General’s Department established that at the time the loan application including a purported board resolution was submitted, Wontumi Farms Limited had not been registered and therefore had no legal existence.
According to Dr Ayine, the company was only incorporated on December 14, 2017, and issued a certificate to commence business on the same day, after the loan process had already been initiated.
As part of the application, Wontumi Farms Limited submitted a proforma invoice to the Ghana Exim Bank on December 15, 2017 for the purchase of agricultural equipment, including tractors, combine harvesters and corn seeders.
Following requests by the bank for proof of purchase after disbursement processes began, Chairman Wontumi submitted what he described as a receipt from Kas-Sama Enterprise on March 18, 2018, indicating payment of GH¢4 million for the equipment.
The Attorney-General, however, said investigations established that the document was not a genuine receipt.
“Our investigations revealed that Chairman Wontumi obtained only an invoice from Kas-Sama Enterprise with a promise to return to complete the purchase. He never returned,” Dr Ayine stated.
He explained that investigators found that the original invoice was allegedly altered by removing the word ‘invoice’ and replacing it with ‘receipt’ before being submitted to Exim Bank as proof of payment.
The owner of Kas-Sama Enterprise, the Attorney-General said, confirmed to investigators that no payment was ever received and that no receipt was issued to Wontumi Farms Limited.
Further red flags were also identified in the document, which included bulldozers and excavators, equipment not originally listed in the loan application and contained phrases such as “50 days to supply and one-year guarantee and service,” which the Attorney-General said are consistent with a proforma invoice, not a payment receipt.
Dr Ayine stressed that the revelations form part of ongoing accountability efforts and that no individual is above the law, regardless of political affiliation.
He added that investigations into related matters are ongoing and assured the public that appropriate legal action will be taken once all processes are completed.
