High Court refuses OSP request to pause Charles Bissue corruption trial

The High Court in Accra has refused to halt the corruption trial of former Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining Secretary, Charles Bissue, and two others.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor had asked the court to stay proceedings pending decisions from the Supreme Court on matters affecting its prosecutorial mandate.

But the court, presided over by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, dismissed the application on Monday, June 22.

The judge held that no order had been made by the Supreme Court preventing the OSP from continuing its prosecutions.

She therefore ruled that the trial should proceed unless a higher court directs otherwise.

The decision means the undercover investigator from TigerEye PI will continue his testimony before the court.

Benjamin Adjapong, who was part of the team that conducted the “Galamsey Fraud” investigation, is testifying in camera.

The OSP had argued that the trial should be paused because of recent legal developments concerning its authority to prosecute cases.

It referred to a High Court ruling directing that the Attorney-General should take over all pending OSP prosecutions.

The OSP has appealed that decision.

It has also filed a certiorari application at the Supreme Court seeking to quash the ruling.

In addition, a separate writ challenging the OSP’s prosecutorial mandate is before the Supreme Court, with judgment expected on July 29.

Lawyers for the accused persons opposed the request for a stay of proceedings.

They urged the High Court to continue with the trial.

After considering the arguments, the court held that the pending Supreme Court matters did not automatically stop the case before it.

The court subsequently adjourned the case to June 23, 2026, for continuation.

Mr Bissue is standing trial with a former Systems Manager of the GalamStop software and a former Project Coordinator of the IMCIM.

They have all pleaded not guilty to eight counts involving corruption and corruption-related offences.

Mr Bissue faces six counts, including corruption and abuse of public office.

The other two accused persons have been charged with abetment of corruption and use of public office for profit.

The case is linked to the TigerEye PI “Galamsey Fraud” investigation.

In earlier proceedings, lawyers for the first and third accused objected to portions of Mr Adjapong’s witness statement on grounds of hearsay.

The trial will now continue while the parties await the outcome of the related Supreme Court proceedings.