Court okays Andrew Owusu’s GH¢200,000 restitution agreement

The High Court in Accra has convicted Andrew Thomas Owusu, an aide to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, on charges of using public office for profit after pleading guilty to three counts.

This comes after the accused pleaded guilty to the charges following a plea bargaining agreement with the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

As part of the agreement with the OSP, which has been endorsed by the trial judge, Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame, Andy Owusu is to pay GH¢200,000 as compensation to the state.

Additionally, he will pay a fine of GH¢6,000, pursuant to Section 179D of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29).

Per the agreement, Andy Owusu is to make the payment a week after the adoption of the plea bargaining agreement by the court.

Plea bargaining is a process in criminal justice where an accused person relinquishes the right to a full trial in exchange for some other benefit.

In consideration of a guilty plea, the accused person gets lesser charges, a reduced number of offences or receives a lesser sentence.

Charges

Andy Owusu was standing trial with former presidential staffer Charles Bissue, who is the first accused person in the case.

Per the charge sheet filed at the Accra High Court, the OSP alleged that Bissue used his position as secretary of the IMCIM for private gain by receiving a bribe of GH¢35,000 from one

Benjamin Adjapong to help in the renewal of an expired mining licence by a supposed company known as ORR Resources Limited.

The OSP said the renewal was to be done by “circumventing established requirements of the IMCIM in respect of verification of documents, acquisition of relevant permits, demarcation and mapping of concessions and vetting, and thereby unlawfully securing a fast-track renewal of an expired mining licence”.

The criminal case stems from an exposé on corruption in the fight against illegal mining by private investigator Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his company, Tiger Eye P.I.

Andy Owusu, who is a former presidential staffer, was accused of facilitating the payment of the alleged bribe money to Bissue.

Plea bargaining

Andy Owusu has entered into a plea bargaining agreement with the state.

On May 29, this year, prosecutors told the court that Andy Owusu had filed a plea agreement entered into between the Republic and A2 (Andy Owusu).

The agreement was pursuant to section 71 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2017 (Act 959).

“By this agreement, (Andy Owusu) has agreed to plead guilty to the offence of using Public Office for profit contrary to section 179C (b) of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29),” he submitted.

The prosecution subsequently agreed to withdraw charges of corruption and accepting bribes.

Justice Comfort Kwasiwor Tasiame ordered that items deposited by the second accused person be released to him.

The case has been adjourned to June 10 for the case to continue in respect of Bissue, who has been accused of using public office for profit.