The High Court in Accra has dismissed a motion by former presidential staffer Charles Cromwell Bissue, seeking to stop his criminal trial by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. Bissue, along with Raphael Mensah and Dr. Naa Dedei Tagoe, faces nine counts of alleged corruption and abuse of public office. His lawyers argued that the charges filed against him were defective.
Bissue's case against the prosecution is based on three grounds. He claims an earlier case remains pending, that the police had cleared him, and that the OSP lacks authority to investigate cases not referred to it by the police. The court, however, requested the original records of the earlier proceedings, which showed that the case had been withdrawn and struck out on July 3, 2025.
Bissue's counsel, Mr. Augustine Obour, disputed the records, stating he could not remember being in court that day or seeing one of the accused. The judge ruled that a failure to remember the proceedings was not sufficient reason to reject official court records. This decision weakened Bissue's argument, leading the court to consider his grounds as frivolous.
The court eventually held that the grounds on which Bissue built his arguments were frivolous and dismissed them. This development allows the trial to proceed. Bissue and his co-defendants were initially part of a trial that started in July 2019, where Thomas Andy Owusu pleaded guilty and was convicted, while Bissue pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the OSP withdrew the charges and filed fresh charges against Bissue. His lawyers contend that the new charges were incurably flawed and incompetent. The Criminal Division of the High Court had admitted the accused to bail in the sum of GH¢200,000 each, with two sureties, one of whom must be justified.
The OSP's decision to refile charges against Bissue was based on new evidence or a re-evaluation of the case. Bissue's lawyers will likely review the court's decision and consider their next steps. The trial's progression will be closely watched, given the high-profile nature of the case and the allegations involved.
The court's decision marks a significant step forward in the trial. The case has been ongoing since 2019, with several developments, including the withdrawal and re-filing of charges. The court's ruling ensures that the trial will continue, and a verdict can be expected in due course. The OSP will present its case, and Bissue's lawyers will have the opportunity to defend their client.
Key points
- The High Court in Accra dismissed Charles Cromwell Bissue's motion to halt his criminal trial.
- Bissue faces nine counts of alleged corruption and abuse of public office.
- The court's decision allows the trial to proceed, despite Bissue's arguments that the charges were defective.
