The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) has dismissed an application for a stay of proceedings filed by Dr Naa Dedei Tagoe, the third accused in the ongoing corruption trial of former presidential staffer Charles Bissue.

According to myjoyonline.com, the application sought to halt High Court proceedings after the trial court refused to suspend its December 9, 2025, ruling allowing the first prosecution witness to testify in camera.

Dr Tagoe’s legal team argued that the measure could compromise her constitutional right to a fair and public hearing, claiming that exceptional circumstances warranted a temporary halt.

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The prosecution opposed the motion, stating that no irreparable harm had been demonstrated and that the High Court’s measures were sufficient to safeguard the rights of the accused and prevent any miscarriage of justice.

After considering arguments from both sides, the Court of Appeal ruled that Dr. Tagoe had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances to justify stopping the trial. The application was therefore dismissed, allowing proceedings at the High Court to continue.

The trial centres on allegations that Bissue and his co-accused received bribes and illicit gifts to unlawfully fast-track a mining concession sticker for an unlicensed company. Bissue, who previously served as secretary to the now-defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCM), faces multiple charges of corruption and using public office for personal gain.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) alleges that Bissue collected GH¢35,000 from Benjamin Adjapong to circumvent established IMCM procedures for verifying documents during the renewal of a mining license.

JKB/MA

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