Galamsey investigation: Court adjourns hearing of Bissue’s injunction to March 13
Mr. Bissue is seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the OSP and all its agents from investigating and prosecuting him in respect of the ‘Galamsey Fraud Part 1’ documentary.
The High Court has adjourned to March 13, 2023, to hear the injunction application by former presidential staffer and Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Mr. Charles Bissue, against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Investigative Journalist; Anas Aremeyaw Anas, and the Tiger Eye P.I.
Mr. Bissue is seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the OSP and all its agents from investigating and prosecuting him in respect of a 2019 Galamsey documentary conducted by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye P.I.
In court, Monday, February 6, 2023, lawyers for Mr. Bissue asked to withdraw the earlier application filed on December 23, 2022, while also announcing that they have filed an amended affidavit in support of their application filed on January 4, 2023.
However, the recent filing is yet to be served on the OSP, and other respondents in the case.
The court, therefore, adjourned the hearing, in order for respondents to be served, and respond to same.
Background
Mr. Bissue stepped down from his role as Secretary of the IMCIM in 2019 and denied any wrongdoing after the airing of the investigative documentary titled ‘Galamsey Fraud Part 1’ by Tiger Eye P.I.
In his January 4, 2023 application, he noted that following the broadcast of the investigative documentary, the Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee at the time, filed a petition for an investigation which was done by the police, but made no adverse findings against him.
In October 2022, the Office of Special Prosecutor also began investigations into Charles Bissue's role at the IMCIM, following a petition by Anas Aremeyaw and Tiger Eye P.I.
And in December 2022, the OSP released its Half Quarterly Report, announcing among others that it had finalized investigations into the ‘Galamsey fraud’ allegation leveled against Charles Bissue and would issue its directives and further action on the matter in due course.
However, the plaintiff, Mr. Bissue contends that the OSP does not have the power to investigate such a matter that has already been investigated by the police.
