Charles Bissue

On 28 April 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) preferred fifteen (15) criminal charges against Mr Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue, former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), and Mr Andy Thomas Owusu. The charges relate to multiple counts of corruption and abuse of public office under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Specifically, Mr Bissue has been charged with:

      * Six (6) counts of Using Public Office for Profit,
      * Three (3) counts of Corruption by a Public Officer,
      * Three (3) counts of Corruption of a Public Officer, and
      * Three (3) counts of Accepting a Bribe to Influence a Public Officer.

The charges arise from allegations that Mr Bissue, whilst serving as a public officer, received bribes and illicit gifts in exchange for circumventing legal procedures governing the approval of mining licences. Mr Owusu is alleged to have acted as an intermediary in facilitating the said corrupt transactions and is charged accordingly.

On 6 May 2025, both accused persons were arraigned before the court, where pleas were formally taken. The court admitted each of the accused to bail in the sum of GHS 200,000, with two sureties.