Galamsey Fraud: Aide to Chairman Wontumi Convicted of Bribery, Corruption
An Accra High Court has convicted Thomas Andy Owusu in a corruption case tied to illegal mining licensing.
It comes after the court accepted a plea agreement entered under section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The aide to NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi was convicted on his own plea on June 4, 2025.
This case stems from the 2019 “Galamsey Fraud” investigation by Tiger Eye PI, which implicated Owusu and then-presidential staffer Charles Bissue in facilitating illegal mining licences for bribes and bypassing official processes.
In accordance with the agreement, Owusu will pay a fine of 500 penalty units equivalent to GHS 6,000 and restitution of GHS 200,000 to the state.
“Following his conviction, the court struck out two additional charges — Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting a Bribe to Influence a Public Officer,” the OSP said in a statement.
This narrows the case to focus solely on the first accused, Charles Bissue, who is standing trial for allegedly using Public Office for Profit, contrary to section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
His trial will continue on June 10, 2025, with a scheduled Case Management Conference.
Source: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
