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Thomas Andy Owusu, an aide to Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi), has been convicted by the High Court for his role in a bribery scheme related to illegal mining licensing.
According to a Facebook post from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Owusu, the second accused in The Republic v. Charles Bissue & Another, pleaded guilty after entering a plea agreement 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 a bribe to influence a public officer.
This case is linked to the 2019 Galamsey Fraud Part One investigation by Tiger Eye PI, which implicated Owusu and then-presidential staffer Charles Bissue in facilitating mining licenses for bribes, bypassing legal procedures.
Under the agreement, Owusu is to:
1. Pay a fine of 500 penalty units, equivalent to GHS 6,000, and
2. Refund GHS 200,000 to the state for offering a bribe of GHS 15,000.
Following his conviction, the court struck out two additional charges: corruption of a public officer and accepting a bribe to influence a public officer.
With Owusu now convicted, attention shifts to the first accused, Charles Bissue, who stands charged with using public office for profit, contrary to Section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). His trial continues on June 10, 2025, with a Case Management Conference.
