Wontumi’s Aide Convicted in Galamsey Bribery Case: A Milestone in Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
In a landmark decision on June 4, 2025, the Accra High Court convicted Thomas Andy Owusu, an aide to Bernard Antwi-Boasiako (popularly known as Chairman Wontumi), the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). This conviction marks a significant stride in Ghana's ongoing battle against corruption, particularly in the illegal mining sector, commonly referred to as "galamsey." Background of the Case The case originates from the 2019 investigative exposé titled "Galamsey Fraud Part One" by Tiger Eye PI, led by renowned journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The investigation unveiled a network of individuals facilitating the issuance of illegal mining licenses in exchange for bribes, thereby undermining the nation's efforts to regulate the mining industry. Thomas Andy Owusu, serving as an aide to Chairman Wontumi, was implicated alongside Charles Bissue, the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining […]