The Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine has revealed that investigations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) found that Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, forged a receipt to mislead the Ghana Exim Bank into believing that farm equipment had been purchased under a loan facility.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, December 22, the Attorney-General said the falsified document was submitted as proof of purchase after funds had been disbursed to Wontumi Farms Limited under the bank’s Mining Alternative Livelihoods Initiative.
Investigations showed that the receipt, purportedly issued by Kas-Sama Enterprise for equipment worth GH¢4 million, was actually an altered invoice.
“The word ‘invoice’ was removed and replaced with ‘receipt’ despite no payment being made for the equipment,” the Attorney-General explained.
He added that the owner of Kas-Sama Enterprise confirmed to investigators that no payment had been received and that only a proforma invoice had been issued to Chairman Wontumi, who never returned to complete the purchase.
The Attorney-General further stated that, contrary to the loan conditions, “no farming equipment was procured, no farming activity took place, and no youth were employed as claimed in the loan application.”
Describing the conduct as criminal, he said: “The actions of Chairman Wontumi and his company go beyond a mere breach of contract and amount to criminal conduct.”
His office has decided to prosecute Wontumi Farms Limited and its directors for defrauding by false pretences, forgery, and causing financial loss to the state, totaling GH¢24,255,735, which includes the principal sum and accrued interest.
The Attorney-General assured the public that the government remains committed to enforcing accountability and protecting state resources.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
