OSP Chases Charles Bissue

Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), was apprehended by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

According to a statement issued by the OSP on June 21, 2023, Charles Bissue was apprehended after turning himself in.

"At 11:45 GMT on 21 June 2023, Charles Cromwell Nanabayin Onuawonto Bissue, the Secretary of the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), turned himself in to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Parts of the statement read, "He was immediately arrested, interviewed, and subsequently released on bail."

Bissue was arrested after obtaining a temporary restraining order against his detention by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

According to Charles Bissue's attorney, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, Human Rights Court 2 in Accra, presided over by Justice Nicholas MC Abodakpi, issued an injunction prohibiting the OSP from issuing a wanted notice for his client.

Attorney Baffuor disclosed to GhanaWeb that the injunction was issued following trials on Thursday, June 15, 2023, and would be in effect for ten days.

Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), was proclaimed wanted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the OSP announced via a social media post that Charles Bissue is being sought for issues related to his work with the defunct IMCIM.

The notice titled "Wanted by the OSP" features a photograph of Charles Bissue along with his full name, Charles Cromwell Nanabayin Onuawonto Bissue.

The alleged offenses for which he was declared wanted include "corruption-related offenses relating to the activities and expenditures of the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), particularly in relation to the seizure and management of excavators, machinery, road vehicles, and gold nuggets; and use of public office for private gain."