The Office of Special Prosecutor has withdrawn six charges it filed against Owusu Andy Thomas.
The office filed charges of corruption and bribery against Owusu Andy Thomas but has withdrawn all of them.
Mr Owusu was dragged to court by the OSP following a 2019 investigative exposé by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The exposé implicated several officials in alleged misconduct in connection with illegal mining.
Mr Owusu was facing nine charges, including six alleged corruption-related issues.
However, the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, discharged him from those six charges following a plea bargain agreement accepted by the OSP.
As part of the agreement, the court ordered Owusu to pay GH¢200,000 as restitution and reparation to the Republic.
The payment settles the remaining three charges, in accordance with Section 71(4) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
Owusu, the second accused in the case of The Republic v. Charles Bissue & Another, was convicted on his own plea after the Court accepted a plea agreement entered under section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The charge was based on Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting Bribe to Influence a Public Officer.
Following his conviction, the court struck out two additional charges — Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting Bribe to Influence a Public Officer.
Owusu’s conviction narrows the case to focus solely on the first accused, Charles Bissue, accused of Using Public Office for Profit, contrary to section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
His trial will continue on 10 June 2025 with a scheduled Case Management Conference.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana