The High Court has convicted Thomas Andy Owusu, an aide to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (widely known as Chairman Wontumi), in a high-profile corruption case linked to illegal mining licensing.
Owusu, the second accused in The Republic v. Charles Bissue & Another, was convicted on his own plea after the Court accepted a plea bargain filed under section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). He faced charges of Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting a Bribe to Influence a Public Officer.
The case originates from the 2019 Galamsey Fraud Part One exposé by investigative outlet Tiger Eye PI, which implicated Owusu and then-presidential staffer Charles Bissue in a bribery scheme to fast-track illegal mining licences.
Per the plea agreement, Owusu will:
- Pay a fine of 500 penalty units (equivalent to GHS 6,000), and
- Refund GHS 200,000 to the state as restitution.
These penalties relate to his acceptance of GHS 15,000 in a scheme to improperly influence a public officer to bypass standard licensing protocols.
Following the conviction, the court struck out two remaining charges against Owusu, Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting a Bribe to Influence a Public Officer.
With Owusu’s case concluded, the focus now turns to the first accused, Charles Bissue, who is charged with Using Public Office for Profit under section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). His trial is scheduled to continue on 10 June 2025 with a Case Management Conference.
