The High Court has convicted Thomas Andy Owusu, an aide to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (Chairman Wontumi), in a bribery case linked to illegal mining licensing.
The conviction was announced today, June 4, by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in a statement posted on its official Facebook page.
Owusu, the second accused in the case The Republic v. Charles Bissue & Another, was convicted on his own plea after entering into a plea agreement with the OSP under Section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
He was charged with Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting Bribe to Influence a Public Officer, stemming from the 2019 “Galamsey Fraud Part One” exposé by investigative group Tiger Eye PI. The documentary implicated Owusu and former presidential staffer Charles Bissue in facilitating illegal mining licences in exchange for bribes.
Per the court-approved agreement, Owusu is to: Pay a fine of 500 penalty units (GHS 6,000), and make restitution of GHS 200,000 to the state for bribing a public officer with GHS 15,000.
Following the conviction, the court struck out two additional charges against him, narrowing the case to focus solely on Charles Bissue, the first accused.
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Bissue is facing trial for Using Public Office for Profit, contrary to section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). His case is set to continue on June 10, 2025, with a scheduled Case Management Conference.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Risa Wyetttey Cofie
