OSP charges Charles Bissue and associate with corruption offences

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed 15 charges against Charles Bissue. He is the former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). Andy Thomas Owusu is also charged.

These charges are in connection with illegal mining activities. They were brought before the High Court. The OSP alleges that both men abused their public positions for personal gain.

Mr. Bissue faces a charge for using his public office for profit. This violates Section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The OSP claims he received GHC15,000 from Bemanin Adjapong through Andy Owusu around January 22, 2019, in Accra.

The prosecution alleges that Bissue exploited his position as IMCIM Secretary. He accepted money to bypass standard procedures set by the Committee’s 2018 "Road Map for Lifting of Ban on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining." These procedures aimed to ensure proper verification and documentation.

By allegedly fast-tracking mining permit renewals, Bissue undermined efforts to regulate small-scale mining. This includes combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.

The 15-count charge sheet details various instances of alleged corruption and abuse of office. It highlights breaches of lawful mining regulations during a critical time in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.