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Bissue, Owusu Deny Graft, Freed on GH₵400k Bail

Former Presidential Aides Bissue and Owusu Granted Bail in GH₵400,000 Corruption Case

Former presidential staffer Charles Bissue and his co-accused, Andy Thomas Owusu, have entered not guilty pleas to accusations of bribery and corruption brought against them by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in a high-profile corruption case. The two males were given bail of GH₵200,000 apiece by the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court, for a total of GH₵400,000. The accused must turn in their passports to the court and provide two sureties, one of whom must be justified. As part of their bail requirements, they must also report to the OSP once a month.

The accusations follow an exposé by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his team at Tiger Eye P.I. that led to a high-profile probe into illicit mining operations, commonly known as “galamsey.” Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), is charged in court documents with accepting a GH₵35,000 bribe from a man named Benjamin Adjapong. In return, Bissue allegedly circumvented IMCIM’s stringent vetting and verification procedures to speed up ORR Resources Limited’s renewal of an expired mining license.

Andy Owusu, another former presidential adviser and his co-accused, is accused of facilitating the bribe and keeping GH₵15,000 from the transaction. According to the OSP, Owusu first asked Adjapong for GH₵100,000 while claiming to be a liaison who could influence Bissue. The two defendants ultimately divided the GH₵40,000 that had been discussed.

In order to combat illicit mining, then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo established the IMCIM in 2017. The committee required a thorough screening procedure for license renewal and temporarily prohibited all small-scale and artisanal mining activities. According to the OSP, Bissue conspired with Owusu to manipulate this system for his own benefit.

According to court documents, Adjapong conducted an undercover operation as a component of a larger investigation into the activities of the committee. The necessary paperwork and permissions were given to ORR Resources through the purported bribe, indicating complete adherence to mining laws, but in reality, the company had circumvented all legal processes.

As further evidence is given in court, it is anticipated that the case will continue to develop over the next few months. The granting of release does not, however, signify exoneration, and the two accused will still be subject to court proceedings.

The state’s commitment to accountability and openness in public service is demonstrated by this development, which is one of several corruption-related cases the OSP is pursuing.

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