Andy Owusu, an aide to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako commonly known as Chairman is seeking a plea deal with the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Charles Bissue corruption trial.
Andy Owusu was dragged to court alongside former presidential staffer Charles Bissue on 15 counts of corruption-related offences.
Andy Owusu and Charles Bissue have been accused of abusing their public office positions for personal gain in connection with illegal mining operations, including unlawfully fast-tracking the renewal of mining permits for specific mining firms contrary to Section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) filed charges against Charles Bissue and his accomplice, Andy Thomas Owusu, for corruption and abuse of public office in a mining licensing scandal involving an amount of GHC35,000.
The charges, filed at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on April 28, allege that between the period of January and February 2019, Charles Bissue, while serving as IMCIM Secretary, accepted bribes totaling GHC35,000 from one Benjamin Adjapong, directly and through Owusu, to fast-track the renewal of an expired mining license for ORR Resources Enterprise without proper documentation.
Charles Bissue faces nine counts, including Using Public Office for Profit under Section 179C(a) of Act 29 for receiving GHC15,000 on January 22, GHC10,000 on January 30, and another GHC10,000 on February 8 to bypass IMCIM vetting processes.
He is also charged with Corruption by a Public Officer under Sections 239(1) & (3) of Act 29 (as amended by Act 1034) for accepting bribes to influence official duties.
Andy Thomas Owusu faces six counts, including aiding Bissue’s Corruption under Section 179C(b) for acting as a middleman to facilitate payments, as well as Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting Bribes to Influence Bissue under Sections 239(2) & 252(1).
Meanwhile, the High Court has accordingly adjourned the case to 4th June 2025 to allow deliberations for the finalisation of the plea agreement.
See the post below:
Chairman Wontumi’s special aide, Andy Owusu has moved to seek a plea deal with the Office of the Special Prosecutor in his galamsey corruption case, after he was dragged to court alongside former presidential staffer Charles Bissue on 15 counts of corruption-related offences.… pic.twitter.com/l6HvRjI6mT
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) May 30, 2025
