By Phil Antoh
Charles Bissue, the ex-Secretary of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, finds himself in hot water as the Special Prosecutor’s Office (OSP) unveils a staggering 15 criminal charges against him and his partner-in-crime Andy Thomas Owusu. The charges, brought before the High Court in Accra on April 28, paint a damning picture of corruption and misuse of public office.
According to the allegations dated back to January and February 2019, Bissue is accused of pocketing GHC35,000 in bribes from Benjamin Adjapong, both directly and through Owusu, in exchange for expediting the renewal of a mining license for ORR Resources Enterprise without following the proper procedures. In a series of illicit transactions, Bissue purportedly received sums of GHC15,000, GHC10,000, and another GHC10,000 to fast-track the license renewal without due diligence.
The charges levied against Bissue span a range of offenses, including profiteering from public office, corruption, and bribery. On the other hand, Owusu faces charges of enabling Bissue’s corrupt activities by acting as a facilitator for the bribes and accepting kickbacks to influence Bissue’s decisions. Notably, Owusu is alleged to have received GHC5,000 in Kumasi under false pretenses of currying favors from Bissue.
The OSP’s investigation unearthed a sordid tale of backroom dealings, with Owusu reportedly negotiating a hefty GHC100,000 bribe with Adjapong, masquerading as a representative of ORR Resources. As the saga unraveled, Bissue pocketed GHC35,000 while Owusu is said to have received GHC15,000 from the dubious transactions.
In return for the bribes, Bissue purportedly issued fraudulent permits and stickers affirming ORR Resources’ compliance with mining regulations, further entangling himself in a web of corruption.
The IMCIM, established in 2017 to combat illegal mining, was disbanded in 2021 amidst a slew of corruption allegations, including Bissue’s alleged pilfering of equipment and precious metals.
In a separate legal skirmish, Bissue’s attempts to shield himself from the OSP’s scrutiny were thwarted by the Human Rights Court’s denial of his petitions to block investigations or arrests. His claims of impropriety in the arrest warrants were dismissed by the Court, which ordered him to pay GHC10,000 in costs.
This verdict paves the way for the OSP to plough ahead with its probe into Bissue’s malfeasance during his tenure at the IMCIM, as well as to pursue charges linked to the explosive Tiger Eye P.I. documentary ‘Galamsey Fraud Part 1’.”