–BY Issah Olegor
In a significant legal development, the Supreme Court of Ghana has overturned a ruling by the High Court that favoured the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in its protracted case against Charles Bissue, the former Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
The apex court not only quashed the High Court’s decision but also issued a prohibition against the High Court judge from further presiding over the matter.
This comes as a major legal victory for Bissue, who has fought a long and public battle to clear his name following allegations stemming from the 2019 Tiger Eye P.I. exposé, Galamsey Fraud Part 1, which implicated him in corrupt practices while serving in the IMCIM.
Background
The controversy dates back to 2019, when Bissue was captured in an undercover documentary allegedly taking bribes to fast-track mining licenses.
Although he was cleared by the previous administration after an internal investigation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor reopened the case in 2023 as part of a broader probe into illegal mining and public sector corruption.
In April 2023, the OSP reportedly secured an arrest warrant for Bissue and issued a “WANTED” notice for him when he failed to respond to multiple invitations for interrogation.
However, Bissue’s lawyers from Sarkodie Baffour Awuah & Partners, challenged the legitimacy of the said arrest warrant.
After a search revealed that no such warrant existed in court records, the legal team filed an ex parte application to injunct the OSP from executing the purported warrant.
The High Court granted the injunction.
Despite this, the case proceeded in the High Court where the judge set out a procedure for trial, including viewing video evidence submitted by Bissue’s legal team.
Charles Bissue paid for the required video conference facilities, but the High Court delivered a ruling in favour of the OSP without viewing the video evidence.
Supreme Court Intervention
Aggrieved by the High Court’s ruling, Bissue filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court, arguing that the lower court’s decision was fundamentally flawed and procedurally unfair.
On June 3, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld Bissue’s application, nullifying the High Court’s decision and barring the presiding judge from continuing with the case.
The ruling is seen as a procedural win for Bissue, who has consistently accused the OSP of harassment and legal overreach.
Parallel Proceedings and Plea Bargain
Meanwhile, legal proceedings in the corruption case involving Bissue and a co-accused, Andy Thomas Owusu, continue.
The OSP revealed on June 2, 2025, that Owusu had entered into a plea bargain agreement with the state.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, explained that the bargain was accepted based on several legal and pragmatic considerations, including Owusu’s cooperation during investigations, his criminal history, and the impact a full trial might have on witnesses.
The plea bargain, which includes restitution and reparation, is expected to be finalised in court shortly.
A week earlier, on May 29, the Accra High Court adjourned proceedings to allow for the completion of these negotiations.
Charges
Both Bissue and Owusu are facing 15 charges filed by the OSP on April 28.
The charges accuse Bissue of accepting GH₵35,000 in bribes—directly and indirectly—between January and February 2019 to assist ORR Resources Enterprise in renewing an expired mining license without proper documentation.
The charges allege that Bissue issued fraudulent permits and stickers to facilitate illegal mining operations.
Previous Legal Setbacks
Charles Bissue’s legal woes have been ongoing.
In November 2024, the Human Rights Court dismissed a suit he filed to bar the OSP from arresting or charging him.
The court ruled that his allegations lacked merit and imposed a GH₵10,000 cost against him.
Despite this setback, the Supreme Court’s latest ruling could shift the legal momentum in his favour, casting doubt on procedural fairness in earlier stages of the prosecution.
What Lies Ahead
While the Supreme Court’s decision may have reset one of Bissue’s legal battles, the core corruption charges remain pending.
The plea bargain with Owusu, if accepted by the court, could introduce new dynamics to the prosecution’s strategy against Bissue, especially if Owusu cooperates further.
