-BY Issah Olegor
Former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, and Andy Owusu, an aide to the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, have been granted bail in the sum of GH₵200,000 each by the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra.
The two were arraigned before the court on Tuesday, May 6, over their alleged involvement in 15 criminal charges filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Allegations
The charges against Bissue and Owusu stem from allegations that they corruptly accepted bribes totaling GH₵35,000 from a businessman named Benjamin Adjapong to fast-track the renewal of an expired mining license for ORR Resources Enterprise without proper documentation.
Specifically, the first count against Bissue alleges that he used his public office for profit, contravening Section 179 C (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The remaining 14 counts detail further instances of alleged corruption and abuse of office.
Bail Conditions
The court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of GH₵200,000 each with two sureties, one of whom must be justified.
The court also ordered both men to deposit their passports with the court registry and report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor once every month.
Case Management Conference
The case has been adjourned to May 29, 2025, for a Case Management Conference (CMC), a procedural step designed to streamline the trial process by clarifying issues, disclosing evidence, and setting timelines.
This conference will help the court to efficiently manage the case and ensure that all necessary preparations are made for the trial.
