The Criminal Division of the High Court has approved a request from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to allow its first witness in the corruption case involving Charles Bissue to testify in camera.
The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, by Justice Audrey Kocuvie Tay, upheld the OSP’s argument that disclosing the witness’s identity could endanger his life. The witness, identified in court documents as Benjamin Agyepong, is an undercover investigator expected to present crucial evidence linked to illegal mining activities.
The OSP stressed that the violent nature of the galamsey industry necessitates stringent protections for investigators, particularly those who have previously infiltrated criminal operations.
Charles Bissue, former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, is standing trial alongside two others for alleged corruption and abuse of office. Prosecutors allege that the accused bypassed established procedures to benefit a company that was not eligible for a mining licence.
The case stems from Tiger Eye PI’s investigative documentary “Galamsey Fraud Part I” and a subsequent petition submitted to the OSP. All accused individuals have pleaded not guilty.
Meanwhile, the defence team is contesting a separate request from the prosecution seeking permission for a journalist involved in the exposé to testify. The court is expected to rule on that matter when proceedings continue on January 12, 2026.
The OSP has filed fifteen charges against Bissue and an alleged accomplice, Andy Thomas Owusu. Prosecutors claim that between January and February 2019, Bissue accepted GH¢35,000 in bribes to accelerate the renewal of a mining licence for ORR Resources Enterprise. According to the prosecution, “the pattern of payments shows a deliberate effort to influence official duties.”
Source: The Ghana Report
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments