Former aide to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Thomas Owusu-Andy, has officially been cleared of all corruption and bribery accusations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Allegations surfaced that Owusu-Andy had accepted bribes from illicit mining (galamsey) operators in return for helping them with their schemes.
The accusations resulted from the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) scandal investigations, which linked a number of officials to corrupt practices in the battle against illicit mining.
Owusu-Andy reportedly agreed to a plea deal in which he would pay GH₵200,000 in reparation for his involvement in influencing a public official. The OSP has withdrawn all of the charges against him in exchange.
This is a major milestone in the IMCIM investigation, which has seen a number of important individuals come under legal scrutiny for their roles in corrupt practices and illicit mining.
