The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed 15 corruption-related charges against Charles Bissue, former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), and Andy Thomas Owusu.

The charges, brought before the High Court, allege that the two abused their public positions for personal gain in connection with illegal mining activities.

According to the charge sheet, Mr. Bissue faces an initial charge of using his public office for profit, contrary to Section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

The OSP claims he received GHC15,000 from one Bemanin Adjapong through Andy Owusu around January 22, 2019, in Accra.

The prosecution further alleges that Bissue exploited his position as IMCIM Secretary by accepting the money to bypass the standard procedures outlined in the Committee’s 2018 "Road Map for Lifting of Ban on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining.

" These procedures were meant to ensure rigorous verification of documentation, acquisition of necessary permits, proper concession demarcation, and thorough vetting of operators.

By allegedly facilitating the fast-tracking of mining permit renewals for certain individuals, Bissue is accused of undermining efforts to regulate the small-scale mining sector and combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.”

The 15-count charge sheet outlines various instances of alleged corruption, abuse of office, and breaches of lawful mining regulations during a critical period in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.