BY Issah Olegor
The Criminal Division of the High Court has granted a crucial request by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to allow its first prosecution witness to testify in camera in the ongoing case involving former Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) Secretary, Charles Cromwell Bissue, and two others.
The court’s decision followed arguments by prosecutors that the witness faced “significant personal risk” if his identity were revealed during open court proceedings.
The OSP insisted that the sensitive nature of the testimony, coupled with the high-profile individuals implicated in the alleged offences, necessitated stringent protective measures.
A Case Born Out of Media Exposure
The criminal trial traces its roots to a widely publicised investigative documentary, Galamsey Fraud, released by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas in 2019.
The exposé captured alleged instances of corruption and bribery within Ghana’s anti-illegal mining task force, implicating Bissue—then Secretary to the IMCIM—as playing a role in facilitating the operations of an unqualified mining company.
Following public outcry, a formal complaint was filed with the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
The OSP subsequently began an inquiry that culminated in the arrest and prosecution of Bissue and two associates.
Prosecutors allege that the accused persons bypassed mandatory IMCIM procedures for personal gain, enabling a private mining company to unlawfully fast-track its documentation and operations.
Accused Persons Plead Not Guilty
At the High Court, Bissue and his co-accused have maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty to charges including corruption, abuse of office, and contravention of public service procedures.
Their lawyers have challenged several prosecutorial steps, including the OSP’s attempt to introduce the investigative journalist behind the exposé as a witness.
The defence argued that allowing the journalist to testify would unduly prejudice the trial, given the widespread public attention the documentary attracted.
They further claimed that his appearance could compromise the fairness of proceedings.
Witness Protection at the Forefront
Judge Kwame Asante, presiding over the matter, ruled that the safety concerns raised by the OSP were credible and warranted exceptional measures.
As a result, the court granted the application for the first witness to testify behind closed doors, with access restricted to the judge, court officials, the OSP, and defence counsel.
While in-camera hearings are rare in Ghana’s criminal justice system, the court emphasized that such measures were necessary to protect individuals whose testimony could expose them to intimidation or harm.
Next Steps in A Long-Running Legal Battle
The case has been adjourned to January 12, 2026, when the substantive trial is expected to begin. With the court settling the issue of witness protection, the focus now shifts to the OSP’s evidence and how it intends to link the accused persons to the alleged misconduct that took place during the IMCIM era.
The prosecution’s case forms part of broader national efforts to investigate corruption linked to the fight against illegal mining—a sector riddled with allegations of political interference, bribery, and misuse of state machinery.
For Charles Bissue, who has consistently denied wrongdoing and previously secured court orders to halt aspects of the investigation, the upcoming trial marks yet another chapter in a saga that has lingered since 2019.
