Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue, the former Secretary to Ghana’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, on Tuesday forcefully rejected corruption allegations brought against him by the country’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), asserting his innocence and calling for the release of unedited investigative footage tied to the case.

The OSP on Monday filed charges against Bissue and another individual, Andy Thomas Owusu, over alleged acts of corruption and abuse of public office. The charges stem from a 2019 investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud, produced by Ghanaian investigative firm Tiger Eye P.I., which claimed to expose systemic graft in the country’s fight against illegal mining.

In a prepared statement, Mr. Bissue called the accusations “baseless” and said he intends to “vigorously challenge” the claims through legal channels. “I categorically assert that I have always acted in full compliance with both the legal and ethical obligations of the office I held and the laws of the Republic of Ghana,” he said.

Mr. Bissue also questioned the timing of the legal action, noting that it comes under a different political administration than the one in which he served. Without naming political figures, he urged that the matter be handled without prejudice. “It is my sincere hope that this process will allow all parties an equitable opportunity to present evidence and that the facts will be evaluated fairly, without bias,” he said.

Mr. Bissue concluded by voicing confidence in Ghana’s judicial system and called for the full release of unedited video evidence from the Galamsey Fraud documentary, which he says is critical to ensuring a fair trial.

The former official expressed willingness to cooperate with investigators but warned against public speculation. “I urge the public to respect the legal process and refrain from premature judgments,” he added.

Source:TheDotNews