The High Court in Accra has deferred the adoption of proceedings in the case in which the former Secretary to the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, and two others are standing trial over corruption and corruption-related charges.
This was after the court, presided over by Justice Francis Apangabonu Achibonga, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge, held that the adoption of proceedings could not be done today.
He explained that although all the proceedings have now been made available, the court has observed that on August 12, 2026, his colleague who was previously handling the matter adjourned it to October 26, 2026.
Justice Achibonga therefore held that the court is not properly clothed with the authority to adopt proceedings or hear any pending applications before that date, and would accordingly abide by the earlier adjournment to October 26.
Mr. Bissue, the first accused, together with Raphael Mensah, former Systems Manager of the GalamStop software, the second accused, and Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe, former Project Coordinator of the IMCIM, the third accused, have all pleaded not guilty to eight counts relating to corruption and corruption-related offences.
Mr. Bissue faces six counts of corruption and abuse of public office under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended by Act 1034.
Mr. Mensah and Dr. Tagoe have each been charged with abetment of corruption and use of public office for profit, contrary to sections 20(1) and 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
They have all pleaded not guilty and are standing trial. The case has been adjourned to October 26, 2026, for continuation.
