The Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, [IMCIM] Mr. Charles Bissue, who was indicted in the Anas exposé on fraud in the sector, has stepped down from his post.
According to Mr. Bissue, his decision to resign is in the interest of transparency and accountability so as to not compromise the work of the IMCIM.
In his resignation letter, Mr. Charles Bissue stated that he is innocent of all the allegations levelled against him following the release of the TigerEye P.I documentary, despite being seen on camera taking sums of money.
“I have taken notice of the contents of the latest documentary by documentary by Tiger eye P.I titled “Galamsey Fraud”. I would like to state, at the very outset, that I am innocent of the allegations levelled against me the documentary, as I was not and have not been engaged in any acts of corruption, criminality or misconduct”
Mr. Bissue, who is also a Presidential staffer indicated that he has officially informed the Presidency and the sector minister, Professor Frimpong Boateng of his decision to resign from the committee with immediate effect.
Mr. Charles Bissue was of the view that he will be exonerated after the investigations have been concluded adding that he will at all times avail himself to aid the investigation process.
“However, in the interest of transparency and accountability, and so as to not compromise the work of the Inter-Ministerial committee on Illegal Mining, I have informed the President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Chairperson of the IMCIM, of my decision to step aside from my position as secretary to the committee, pending an investigations into the allegations.”
Caught on camera
In a documentary released by Anas on wednesday [27th February 2019] , Mr. Bissue is captured accepting money ostensibly to facilitate clearance for a mining company without going through due process.
He is heard in the video instructing his subordinates to fast-track the processing of the company’s documents.
Several others connected to the work of the committee, otherwise known as the Presidential Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, are seen in the video playing “facilitating” roles at negotiated fees.
There are security operatives, informants and go-between who also offer to provide the company with information on the movements of a security task-force against illegal miners, and others who contribute to provide armed guards for the company’s concession.
All these are actions that are in sharp contrast with the objectives of the very institutions they work with or purport to work for.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining was commissioned in March 2017 by President Akufo-Addo to sanitize artisanal and small-scale mining in the country as well as develop a roadmap towards lifting an indefinite ban on small scale mining that lasted about 21 months.
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By: Jude Mensa Duncan | citinewsroom.com | Ghana | [email protected]
