Galamsey: Charles Bissue requests records from OSP for his inquiry

Charles Bissue’s attorney has asked for copies of the materials the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) relies on for its investigation against their client. Bissue was the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.

Charles Bissue previously requested an injunction to prevent the OSP from looking into him any further due to alleged violations of human rights.

In response to a documentary by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the Special Prosecutor identified the Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining as a person of interest.

On Monday, June 12, Mr. Bissue Nana Adjei Awuah’s lead attorney stated in court that without the records being delivered to the High Court by the OSP, he would not have been able to file his petitions for the injunction.

All pertinent information and evidence must be made accessible to the court, he added, “in order to help the court do justice.”

“An article by the previous Special Prosecutor made it clear that the material we are seeking is necessary after we filed our lawsuit and application for an injunction. It’s not like we were unaware of it beforehand and neglected to bring it up. To what document are we alluding? It is the paper that served as the catalyst for the entire inquiry.

“This is the paperwork that authorised the Special Prosecutor to look into the petitioner. In other words, he wouldn’t even be in court if it weren’t for that petition, he said with respect.

However, the Office of Special Prosecutor’s attorneys vehemently disagreed.

Dr. Tuffuor, the primary attorney, claims that there is no connection at all between the two documents.

“The statement of claim serves as the basis for our request for an injunction. The applicant’s pleadings, which informed the injunction, establish the facts of his case. There is not a single mention of the document he wants the first defendant to present in his pleadings.

“After submitting his case, he discovers some additional facts that they wish to include in their argument, and they know what to do. The motion to produce may not be submitted. There is actually nothing connecting the two actions, according to Dr. Tuffuor.

The case was postponed till Tuesday, July 4 by Olivia Obeng Owusu, presiding judge of General Jurisdiction 4 of the Accra High Court, after Charles Bissue’s attorney informed the court that his client is ill.

As part of its inquiries into the IMCIM report written by former environment minister Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the OSP is also looking into Charles Bissue.