Injunction case against OSP: Cost awarded against Bissue over indecision

An Accra High Court (Human Rights Division) has awarded cost of GH¢500 against the former Secretary to the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Mr. Charles Bissue, for his failure to make a decision on whether to proceed or discontinue his case against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

Bissue is seeking an order of perpetual injunction to restrain the OSP and all its agents from investigating and prosecuting him regarding a 2019 ‘Galamsey’ documentary by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye P.I.

He stepped down from his role as Secretary of the IMCIM in 2019 and denied any wrongdoing after the airing of the documentary that captured him for alleged corruption. 

The OSP then started investigating him in 2022 following a petition from Anas Aremeyaw and Tiger Eye P.I. And in July, the office released its Half Quarterly Report, announcing 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 and is thus seeking a declaration that the OSP’s investigation would amount to a review of the police investigations and findings.

In a Wednesday update on X (formerly Twitter), the OSP said the case has been adjourned to 15 November 2023, to allow Mr. Bissue to formally withdraw his lawsuit.

Case update

Charles Bissue V OSP ( Civil case 2)

The Human Rights Court (1) has awarded a cost of 500 cedis against Charles Bissue due to his failure to make a decision regarding whether to proceed with the case or withdraw it.

Mr. Bissue is before the Human Rights Court…

— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) November 8, 2023