Charles Bissue, the former secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), has spoken from his presumed hiding place after receiving notice that he is a wanted man.
On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) declared the former Western Regional Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) wanted for his involvement in corruption and corruption-related offenses relating to the activities and expenditures of the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, particularly in regards to the seizure and management of excavators, machinery, road vehicles, and gold nuggets; and use of public office for personal gain.
Mr. Bissue responded to the notice on Accra's Joy Fm by stating that he was within the jurisdiction and not a fugitive, as the announcement implied.
According to him, he is presently in Takoradi in the Western Region, and he has not received any invitation-related phone calls that would justify the notice.
"Having observed the notice, I am astonished. However, I am still in the country; I traveled to the Western Region and am currently en route to Accra, where I will report to the office of the Special Prosecutor. I had previously been invited to numerous investigative agencies, including NIB and CID. I've been to the OSP office twice, so it's not as if I'm attempting to avoid attending a meeting there. I requested time to attend, but I believe there was a misunderstanding," he revealed.
Mr. Bissue stated that he is a law-abiding citizen who will honor the OSP's invitation upon his arrival in Accra, citing illness as the reason for his absence on a particular date.
"I revere the laws of the country, I am law-abiding, and I believe my image will be redeemed if I attend this meeting. I've visited numerous regulatory agencies, and I've always been forthcoming with information to aid investigations. I have never evaded the country's laws, and I am not a fugitive. I only stated that I required time to attend", he explained.