News
Attorney-General questions equipment purchases in Exim Bank loan case
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dominic Ayine, has disclosed troubling findings from investigations into a loan facility granted by the Ghana Exim Bank to Wontumi Farms Limited, a company linked to Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
At the Government Accountability Series, Mr. Ayine said investigations showed that Chairman Wontumi did not buy any equipment with funds disbursed to him under the loan agreement, even though the money was released for that specific purpose.
He explained that under the terms of the loan, all equipment purchased was supposed to be registered in the joint names of Ghana Exim Bank and Wontumi Farms Limited.
However, this did not happen because no equipment was bought. According to him, investigators were also unable to trace any of the equipment Mr. Boasiako claimed he had purchased.
The Attorney-General revealed that although Chairman Wontumi submitted receipts to Exim Bank as proof of purchase, the documents were later found to be forged.
During interrogation, Mr. Boasiako told investigators that he bought what he described as “secondhand brand new” equipment and insisted that all receipts and related documents had been submitted to the bank.
Ghana Exim Bank has denied this claim. The bank stated that neither Wontumi Farms Limited nor Chairman Wontumi submitted any genuine documents covering the purchase of the required equipment, apart from the forged receipts identified during investigations.
Mr. Ayine provided further details, explaining that as part of the loan application process, Wontumi Farms Limited submitted a proforma invoice to Exim Bank on December 15, 2017.
The invoice listed farm equipment such as tractors, combine harvesters, corn seeder machines and wellington boots, which were to be used to execute the project.
He said the loan application was for GHS18 million and was meant to support maize cultivation on 100,000 acres of land, while also creating jobs for the youth.
After the loan was processed, Exim Bank demanded proof that the equipment had been purchased.
On March 18, 2018, Chairman Wontumi submitted a document from Kas-Sama Enterprise, indicating the purchase of equipment valued at GHS4 million.
However, investigations showed that the items listed on the document included a bulldozer and an excavator, which raised further questions.
Mr. Ayine disclosed that Chairman Wontumi had earlier approached Kas-Sama Enterprise, an industrial equipment dealer, and obtained an invoice with a promise to return later to complete the purchase.
According to the Attorney-General, Chairman Wontumi never went back to buy the equipment. Instead, he altered the invoice by removing the word “invoice” and replacing it with “receipt,” making it appear as though payment had been made.
This forged receipt was then submitted to Exim Bank as proof that the equipment had been purchased after the loan disbursement.
The owner of Kas-Sama Enterprise confirmed to investigators that the only document issued to Wontumi Farms Limited was an invoice, not a receipt.
He also said he never received any payment and did not hear from Chairman Wontumi again, despite making several follow-up calls.
Investigators also noted that the so-called receipt stated “50 days to supply and 1 year guarantee and service,” which clearly indicated that the document was a proforma invoice and not evidence of payment.
Mr. Ayine also raised concerns about the status of Wontumi Farms Limited at the time the loan application was submitted.
He said that although the company applied for the GHS18 million loan in December 2017 and submitted what was described as a board resolution, the company had not yet been registered.
Investigations established that Wontumi Farms Limited was incorporated on December 14, 2017, and issued a certificate to commence business on the same day.
This meant the company did not exist at the time the loan application was submitted by its sole shareholder and director.
The Attorney-General said the findings raise serious concerns about the use of public funds and form part of government’s broader efforts to promote transparency and accountability under the Government Accountability Series.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
