The Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee against illegal mining, Charles Bissue says he is innocent of corruption allegations levelled against him in the latest exposé by investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tigereye PI team on illegal mining in Ghana.
“I have taken notice of the contents of the latest 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 in the documentary, as I was not and have not been engaged in any acts of corruption, criminality or misconduct,” he said in a statement issued on Friday evening.
Anas and his TigerEye PI team on Wednesday published an investigative video which showed state officials, including Charle Bissue, who is also a presidential staffer, sidestepping the laid-down procedure for the procurement of mining licenses.
Anas and his team formally petitioned the office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the matter and deal with persons who compromised their positions and hampered the President’s fight against illegal small scale mining in the country.
Bissue steps aside
Mr. Bissue in the statement said although he didn’t engage in any corrupt activity, he has stepped aside pending further investigations.
“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 investigation into the allegations,” he added in the statement.
Anas has also petitioned the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu over the matter.
Martin Amidu, in confirming receipt of the petition while speaking at St. Gregory The Great Provincial Major Seminary at Parkoso in the Ashanti region said investigations will soon commence into it.
“I know there is a video trending on galamsey. My office was petitioned yesterday [Thursday]. I was preparing to come here so I couldn’t read the hefty document that they brought. Videos have been showed…. Be assured that if my office investigates it and there is a crime, it shall be dealt with,” Martin Amidu said.
The government on Thursday also asked for the unedited footages to enable it to investigate and come out with conclusions before it can take action against its officials who were indicted in the video.
The managing editor of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Kweku Baako had also said that the team will not have any problem making those files available to the government.
–
By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey | citinewsroom.com | Ghana
