Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has claimed he is not hiding.
He said that he was shocked by the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s decision to list him as Wanted.
Charles Bissue declared that he had nothing to hide in response to the OSP’s Wanted notice and that he will undoubtedly show up at the investigator’s office.
“I’m shocked by it because I wasn’t in Accra and I knew they had invited me and there are other issues going on, and all that. But then, you know in the past, l’ve been to the BNI, to the CID, and even the Special Prosecutor’s Office. When Martin Amidu was there, I went there. So, it wasn’t as if I was avoiding attending that interview.”
Charles Bissue
Charles Bissue explained that he has not been able to accept the OSP’s invitation because he is not in Accra currently. He emphasized that it surprised him, especially given that the OSP’s Wanted proclamation portrays him as a criminal or a runaway.
“What happened is that I was out of Accra, so my lawyers have written to them that I will come and then we heard of the arrest warrant. Basically, I haven’t gone anywhere. I’m in Ghana and I’lI go to the Special Prosecutor’s office at some point when I return to Accra. But to declare me Wanted, I don’t know why, as if I’m a fugitive…but the whole thing is making it look like I’m a criminal.”
Charles Bissue
Charles Bissue emphasized that he is not hiding and that he is prepared to give the Office of the Special Prosecutor any information it requires to carry out its duties. He gave the OSP his word that he would undoubtedly be at their offices and assist them in their duties.
“Visiting all these agencies and all that, the Ghanaian perception is that the fact that you go to these places means that you are a criminal. No! Every information I have, is in the interest of the country so, I haven’t run away anywhere. I’m within the country, and even when I was out of the jurisdiction last year, I have so many visas, I could have stayed out of the country if I had anything to hide. I am in the jurisdiction, and I’ll attend the Special Prosecution’s office at some point to answer their questions.”
Charles Bissue
Background
Earlier today, it was reported that the Office of the Special Prosecutor had declared the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, Wanted.
On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the OSP posted a notice on social media stating that Charles Bissue is wanted for reasons related to his work on the disbanded IMCIM.
The alleged offences he is wanted for include: “corruption-related offences regarding the activities and expenditure of the dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), especially in respect of the seizure and management of excavators, machinery, road vehicles, and gold nuggets; and use of public office for profit.”
The OSP’s announcement followed allegations that it has obtained a warrant for the former IMCIM secretary’s arrest. In the meantime, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, the former IMCIM chairman and former minister of science and technology, was detained on May 16, 2023, in connection with claims of corruption in the IMCIM’s operations. He was later released on bail.
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