OSP drops all corruption, bribery charges against Wontumi’s Aide

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially withdrawn all six corruption and bribery charges against Owusu Andy Thomas, effectively clearing him of those specific allegations.

Owusu was standing trial alongside Charles Bissue, the former Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining. The two were facing a total of 15 counts related to corruption and bribery, based on a 2019 undercover investigation by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The exposé accused several officials of taking bribes to facilitate illegal mining activities, also known as “galamsey.”

Before the recent development, Owusu Andy Thomas had nine charges against him, including six directly related to bribery and corruption. But on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra discharged him from all six corruption-related charges after a plea bargain agreement was accepted by the OSP.

As part of this negotiated settlement, Owusu agreed to pay GH¢200,000 to the Republic of Ghana. This amount, described by the court as both restitution and reparation, also settles the three remaining charges under Section 71(4) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

The decision marks a significant step in the legal aftermath of the 2019 anti-galamsey exposé, which stirred national conversation around corruption in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining. While Owusu Andy Thomas has now been cleared, the case against Charles Bissue is still ongoing.