Former Secretary of the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, has firmly denied allegations of corruption and abuse of office following criminal charges filed against him and his alleged accomplice, Andy Thomas Owusu.
In a press statement issued shortly after the charges were made public, Bissue declared his full compliance with legal and ethical standards during his tenure.
"I categorically state that I have always adhered to the laws of Ghana and the duties of my office. Any insinuation of wrongdoing is unfounded, and I will vigorously contest these allegations through due process," he asserted.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) brought 15 criminal charges before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on April 28, reviving a case linked to the 2019 Tiger Eye P.I. investigative report on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Allegations and Counterclaims
The prosecution alleges that between January and February 2019, Bissue, while serving as IMCIM Secretary, accepted GH₵35,000 in bribes from Benjamin Adjapong—directly and through Owusu—to expedite the renewal of an expired mining license for ORR Resources Enterprise without proper documentation. In return, Bissue allegedly issued fraudulent compliance permits and stickers to the company.
Though previously cleared by the former administration, the OSP has reopened the case, prompting Bissue to challenge the evidence against him.
"After five years of deliberation, I welcome the OSP’s decision to proceed with this case," Bissue stated. "However, I demand that the court reviews the complete, unedited version of the documentary referenced in these proceedings. Ghanaians deserve the unvarnished truth, free from selective interpretations or distortions."
Political Timing and Judicial Trust
Bissue, a former presidential staffer under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, emphasized the importance of an impartial judicial process, noting that the case is unfolding under a different administration.
"I trust the courts will evaluate the facts fairly, without bias. The public must refrain from premature judgments and allow the legal process to run its course. Justice must be rooted in truth and transparency," he added.
Background and Legal Battles
The IMCIM, established in 2017 to combat illegal mining, was dissolved in 2021 following corruption scandals, including accusations of misappropriated excavators and gold nuggets involving Bissue.
In November 2024, the Human Rights Court dismissed Bissue’s lawsuit seeking to block the OSP from arresting or prosecuting him. The court ruled that his claims of an unlawfully procured arrest warrant were baseless, ordering him to pay GH₵10,000 in costs.
This ruling paved the way for the OSP to proceed with investigations and formal charges, including those stemming from the Galamsey Fraud exposé.
As the case moves forward, Bissue remains resolute in his defense, while the OSP seeks to hold him accountable in a high-stakes legal battle that could set a precedent for anti-corruption efforts in Ghana.
What’s Next?
The court proceedings will determine whether the evidence against Bissue holds merit, testing Ghana’s judicial system in a case that has already spanned years. With public interest high, the outcome could significantly impact the fight against graft in the nation’s mining sector.
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