The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed reports suggesting that it intended to discontinue the trial involving former Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue through a nolle prosequi.
According to the office, it has neither stated nor implied any intention to withdraw the prosecution.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, June 23, the OSP said “contrary to reports by some media outlets, the OSP has neither stated nor suggested that it intends to enter a nolle prosequi in the matter.”
The OSP explained that the trial involving former Secretary of the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue, is proceeding after an Accra High Court rejected the Office’s request to temporarily halt proceedings due to a ruling which held that the OSP lacked prosecutorial authority.
The development follows an April 15, 2026 ruling by an Accra High Court (General Jurisdiction 10), which held that the OSP lacked prosecutorial authority and ordered the office to transfer its cases to the Attorney-General.
In response to that ruling, the OSP initiated steps to have the decision set aside. Several other High Courts subsequently adjourned cases brought by the OSP pending a determination by the Supreme Court on the office’s prosecutorial mandate.
In the case of The Republic v. Charles Bissue & 2 Others, the OSP requested a temporary suspension of proceedings before Criminal Court 4 until the Supreme Court delivers its judgment on the matter.
According to the OSP, on June 22, 2026, the trial court ruled that the earlier decision by the High Court sitting at General Jurisdiction 10 was not binding on Criminal Court 4 because both courts are of coordinate jurisdiction.
The court therefore directed that the trial should continue.
When the case was called on June 23, the OSP informed the court that it was ready to begin presenting its evidence and would call its first witness on July 6, 2026.
The court subsequently adjourned proceedings to the said date.
The case stems from allegations of corruption and abuse of office linked to the operations of the former anti-galamsey task force.
One of the accused persons, Thomas Andy Owusu, entered into a plea agreement with the OSP in June 2025, admitted wrongdoing and was subsequently convicted by the High Court in connection with the matter.
With the court ordering proceedings to continue, the trial is expected to move into the evidentiary stage when it resumes on July 6.
