Former IMCIM Secretary and Accomplice Charged in GHC35,000 Mining License Corruption Case

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated legal proceedings against Charles Bissue, former Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), and Andy Thomas Owusu, an alleged accomplice, over alleged acts of corruption and abuse of public office involving the renewal of a mining license valued at GHC35,000.

Fifteen criminal charges were filed against the two at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on April 28. According to the OSP, the charges stem from events that occurred between January and February 2019, during which Mr. Bissue, while serving as Secretary of IMCIM, is alleged to have accepted a series of bribes totaling GHC35,000. These payments were reportedly made by one Benjamin Adjapong—directly and through Owusu—in exchange for expediting the renewal of an expired mining license for ORR Resources Enterprise, despite inadequate documentation.

Mr. Bissue faces nine charges, including:

Using Public Office for Profit under Section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), for allegedly receiving GHC15,000 on January 22, GHC10,000 on January 30, and an additional GHC10,000 on February 8, 2019.
Corruption by a Public Officer under Sections 239(1) and (3) of Act 29, as amended by Act 1034, for allegedly accepting bribes to influence his official duties.

Mr. Owusu, believed to have acted as an intermediary in the scheme, is facing six charges, including:

Aiding Corruption under Section 179C(b), for facilitating the payment of bribes.
Corruption of a Public Officer and Accepting Bribes to Influence under Sections 239(2) and 252(1) of Act 29.

Prosecutors contend that Owusu received GHC5,000 for falsely presenting himself as having the capacity to obtain favors from Mr. Bissue. He also allegedly played a significant role in the negotiation process with Adjapong, which occurred during a sting operation led by investigative outfit Tiger Eye P.I.

While the initial bribe amount was proposed at GHC100,000, negotiations reportedly brought it down to GHC40,000 for each party. In the end, Bissue is said to have received GHC35,000, with Owusu taking GHC15,000.

The OSP asserts that both men abused their positions for personal benefit, undermining public trust. The case is set to proceed to trial in the coming weeks.

Source; theghanareport

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