By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Wontumi, is seeking a plea bargain in an ongoing case involving alleged financial irregularities linked to the Ghana Export-Import (EXIM) Bank.
The move comes as the case progresses through Ghana’s court system. A plea bargain allows an accused person to negotiate with prosecutors, usually by admitting guilt to a lesser charge in exchange for a reduced sentence or other concessions, rather than proceeding to a full trial.
Commenting on the issue on GBC’s Current Agenda programme, private legal practitioner and Executive Director of Lands and Mines Watch Ghana, Kwame Owusu Danso, said plea bargaining is not reserved for wealthy or influential individuals, as some people perceive.
He explained that the legal mechanism is available to any accused person under Ghana’s legal framework, provided the prosecution and the court agree to the terms.
“Plea bargaining is not only for the rich and affluent. Everyone can go for it,” he said.
The EXIM Bank case involving Wontumi has attracted significant public attention because of his political profile and the sums involved. Prosecutors have alleged the misuse of funds and financial misconduct connected to transactions involving the bank.
Wontumi has, however, denied any wrongdoing in previous court appearances.
Plea bargaining enables courts to consider agreements reached between the prosecution and the defence in order to expedite cases and reduce pressure on the judicial system.
The court is expected to consider the plea bargain request at its next sitting. If accepted, it could result in a conviction on agreed terms without a full trial. If rejected, the case will proceed through the normal trial process.
