The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has dismissed an attempt by one of the accused persons in the ongoing corruption trial involving former anti-galamsey official Charles Bissue, effectively allowing proceedings at the High Court to continue without interruption.

The application for a stay of proceedings was filed by Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe, the third accused in the case titled Republic v. Charles Bissue, Raphael Mensah, and Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe. Her legal team sought to halt the trial pending further legal challenges, particularly over a controversial High Court directive requiring the first prosecution witness to testify in camera.

Challenge Over Secret Testimony

The dispute stems from a December 9, 2025 ruling by the High Court, which granted a request by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its first witness to give evidence behind closed doors.

The prosecution had argued that revealing the identity of the witness in open court posed a significant safety risk.

Dr. Tagoe’s lawyers, however, contended that such a directive undermines the constitutional right of the accused persons to a fair and public hearing.

They argued that the circumstances justified a stay of proceedings until the matter could be fully resolved, warning that continuing the trial under such conditions could prejudice the defence.

Prosecution Pushes Back

The OSP opposed the application, insisting that the High Court’s ruling included adequate safeguards to protect the rights of the accused while ensuring the safety of the witness.

Prosecutors further argued that the applicant had failed to demonstrate any irreparable harm that would arise if the trial proceeded.

According to the prosecution, the request for a stay was unnecessary and would only delay justice in a case that has already faced years of legal battles and procedural setbacks.

Court of Appeal Ruling

After reviewing arguments from both sides, the Court ruled that Dr. Tagoe had not established any “exceptional circumstances” to justify halting the trial.

The court found the application to be without merit and dismissed it accordingly.

The decision effectively clears the way for the High Court to proceed with the trial, including the controversial in-camera testimony of the prosecution’s first witness.

Background

The case against Charles Bissue and his co-accused dates back to the 2019 Galamsey Fraud investigative exposé, which uncovered alleged corruption within the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

Charles Bissue, who served as Secretary to the committee, was accused of accepting bribes and illicit gifts to fast-track the issuance of a mining concession sticker for a company that did not meet the required legal standards.

Following investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, charges were filed against Bissue, Raphael Mensah, and Dr. Tagoe. All three have pleaded not guilty and continue to contest the allegations.

A Trial Marked by Legal Battles

The trial has been characterised by multiple legal challenges, including disputes over arrest warrants, admissibility of evidence, and witness protection.

The latest ruling by the Court of Appeal marks a significant moment in the case, as it removes yet another legal hurdle that threatened to stall proceedings.

With the stay application dismissed, attention now shifts back to the High Court, where the prosecution is expected to begin presenting its evidence in full.