An Accra High Court has granted an application filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for its first prosecution witness to testify in camera in the case involving Charles Cromwell Nanabayin Onuawonto Bissue and others.

The Court cited a significant risk to the witness should his identity be publicly disclosed.

They are accused of bypassing procedures of IMCIM to benefit a company deemed unqualified.

The case stems from a media investigation and a subsequent complaint to the OSP, which triggered their arrests and the current prosecution.

The witness is said to be an undercover journalist working with TigerEye Pl

Maame Akua Adiyiah, the lead prosecutor in the case for the OSP, said the witness had genuine fear for his safety.

The prosecutor argued that the court had the authority to grant protection to the witness, allowing him to testify with his face only shown to the parties involved in the case.

She said the witness’ safety was paramount and that the court should not wait until something happened before taking action.

“The OSP believes that refusing this application may deter the witness from testifying, which would not be in the interest of justice,” she added.

Lawyers for the accused persons argued that the witness’s employer, TigerEyePI, was not a registered entity, and there was no evidence to support the witness’s claim of fear.

They also argued that the prosecution’s application was inadequate and did not meet constitutional and court act criteria.

They questioned the witness’s status as an undercover investigator, noting that his employment details did not mention that.

Bissue, the former Secretary to the now-dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, and two others are standing trial for allegedly receiving bribes and illicit gifts to unlawfully fast-track the issuance of a mining concession sticker for an unlicensed company.

They are accused of taking bribes and other illicit benefits to expedite the issuance of a mining concession sticker for an unlicensed company.

The accused persons face six counts of using public office for profit and three counts of corruption by a public officer.

The matter has been adjourned to January 12, 2026, for trial.