Charles Bissue replies OSP on criminal charges 

Former Secretary of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, maintains his innocence. He faces 15 criminal charges for corruption and abuse of public office. His alleged accomplice is Andy Thomas Owusu.

Bissue stated, "I have always acted in compliance with legal and ethical obligations." He called any misconduct claims baseless and plans to challenge them through due process. This statement came shortly after the case was filed in court.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) filed these charges on April 28. They relate to the 'Galamsey Fraud' investigation documented in a 2019 report by TigerEye P.I. Although Bissue was cleared by the previous government, the OSP reopened the case.

The High Court in Accra received the charges. They allege that between January and February 2019, Bissue accepted bribes totaling GHC35,000 from Benjamin Adjapong. He allegedly did this directly and through Owusu to expedite a mining license renewal for ORR Resources Enterprise without proper documentation.

In return, Bissue reportedly issued fraudulent permits declaring ORR Resources compliant with mining laws. As he prepares for court, he expressed his welcome for the OSP's decision to proceed after five years of deliberation.

Bissue expects transparency from the OSP regarding evidence presented in court. He believes Ghanaians deserve access to unaltered facts free from distortion or selective interpretations.

He remains committed to cooperating with proceedings and trusts that courts will adjudicate impartially. Bissue noted that prosecution under a different government highlights the need for impartial judicial processes.

He hopes all parties can present evidence fairly during this process. "The pursuit of truth and justice must prevail," he emphasized. He urged respect for legal processes and cautioned against premature judgments.

The IMCIM was established in 2017 to combat illegal mining but dissolved in 2021 amid corruption scandals involving Bissue’s alleged misappropriation of excavators and gold nuggets.

In November 2024, a Human Rights Court dismissed Bissue's final suit aimed at preventing OSP actions against him. Previously, he obtained a temporary injunction against his arrest, claiming it was unlawfully procured.

Bissue also sought to declare a notice marking him as wanted void. The court found his claims unfounded due to lack of supporting evidence regarding an arrest warrant issued against him.

The judge ruled that it was Bissue’s responsibility to prove such a warrant existed, which he failed to do. The ruling cleared the way for OSP investigations into Bissue’s involvement with IMCIM and other corruption allegations highlighted in Tiger Eye P.I.'s documentary Galamsey Fraud Part 1.