Exim Bank loan case is civil debt, not crime – Lawyer Atta Akyea

Counsel for businessman and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi),Lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea has strongly rejected attempts to treat a Ghana Exim Bank loan facility as a criminal matter, describing such moves as a devaluation of a state institution.

Wontumi and Wontumi Farms Limited are facing criminal charges, including defrauding by false pretences, uttering forged documents, money laundering and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body, in connection with a facility obtained from Ghana Exim Bank for a farming project.

But to say that somebody goes to a bank for a loan and you want to convert it into a criminal thing, we’re going to fight it strong,” he said.