In a significant development in the ongoing trial involving former presidential staffer Charles Bissue, one of the co-accused, Mr. Andy Owusu, has initiated plea bargain discussions with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Owusu, who is known to be a special aide to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi), has officially indicated his intention to reach a plea agreement with state prosecutors.
According to the court documents, Charles Bissue stands accused of leveraging his public office for personal financial gain, a violation under Section 179C(a) of Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The OSP claims that on or around January 22, 2019, Bissue received an amount of GH₵15,000 through Owusu from a man named Bemanin Adjapong. At the time, Bissue was the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). The money was allegedly given in exchange for bypassing crucial steps outlined in the Committee’s 2018 “Road Map for Lifting of Ban on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining.”
These skipped processes reportedly included key procedures such as document verification, permit acquisition, concession mapping, and vetting—designed to curb illegal mining activities.
Prosecutors allege that by accepting the bribe, Bissue used his position to hasten the renewal of mining licenses for select operators, undermining the integrity of the anti-galamsey efforts at the time.
The 15-count charge sheet filed against Bissue and Owusu outlines numerous corruption-related offences, including the abuse of office and actions meant to sabotage proper mining regulations during Ghana’s nationwide crackdown on illegal mining.
During a recent Case Management Conference, state lawyers informed the court that plea discussions with Owusu had begun and that a formal notice had been submitted.
If the plea arrangement is accepted by the court, it could result in Owusu being tried separately, which would allow prosecutors to zero in on Bissue’s individual charges.
The case was adjourned to June 4, 2025, to give room for the negotiations to be concluded.
Currently, both Bissue and Owusu are facing 15 charges and have pleaded not guilty to all of them. They were each granted bail of GH₵200,000 with two sureties—one of which must be justified. The court also ordered them to surrender their passports and report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor once a month.
