In a landmark judgment, the High Court has convicted Thomas Andy Owusu, an aide to Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, of corruption charges linked to illegal mining licensing.
The conviction follows a plea bargain agreement between Owusu and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The charges stem from the 2019 “Galamsey Fraud Part One” exposé by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, which implicated Owusu and Charles Bissue, former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, in a bribery scandal.
According to the prosecution, Owusu allegedly paid GH₵15,000 to Bissue to facilitate the unlawful issuance of mining permits.
Delivering the judgment, the court sentenced Owusu to pay a fine of GH₵6,000, equivalent to 500 penalty units, and ordered him to pay GH₵200,000 in restitution to the state.
The court also struck out two additional charges against Owusu, namely corruption of a public officer and accepting a bribe to influence a public officer.
The case against Charles Bissue, who is accused of using his public office for profit, will continue on June 10, 2025, with a scheduled case management conference. The OSP is expected to present its case against Bissue, who has maintained his innocence.
The conviction of Owusu serves as a significant development in the fight against corruption and illegal mining in Ghana.