The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially withdrawn all six corruption and bribery charges against Thomas Owusu Andy after reaching a plea bargain agreement. This development marks a significant turn in a high-profile case related to illegal mining, commonly referred to in Ghana as galamsey.
Mr. Owusu had been standing trial alongside Charles Bissue, the former Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining. Together, they faced a total of 15 charges stemming from a 2019 undercover investigative report by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The exposé alleged misconduct by several government officials implicated in illegal mining activities.
At the time the plea agreement was reached, nine charges remained against Mr. Owusu, six of which pertained specifically to corruption. On Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the High Court’s Criminal Division in Accra dismissed those six corruption-related charges, effectively concluding that part of the case.
As part of the plea deal, Mr. Owusu has been ordered by the Court to pay GH¢200,000 to the Republic of Ghana as restitution and reparation. This payment satisfies the remaining three charges under Section 71(4) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The resolution of Mr. Owusu’s case is a notable development in the broader legal response to illegal mining in Ghana and underscores continuing public demand for transparency and accountability in environmental governance.
Legal proceedings against Charles Bissue are ongoing.
Source: theghanareport
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