High Court rejects OSP's bid to suspend Charles Bissue trial

The High Court has dismissed an application by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) seeking a stay of proceedings in Republic v Charles Cromwell Nanabanyin Onuawonto Bissue & 2 Others (Suit No. CR/0559/2025) pending the determination of a related constitutional matter before the Supreme Court concerning the powers of the OSP.

In a ruling delivered on June 22, 2026, the Court declined to grant the application, holding that the OSP had failed to establish sufficient grounds to justify staying the criminal proceedings. Consequently, the trial will continue on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

The ruling follows an earlier significant development in the proceedings. On June 10, 2026, the High Court upheld objections raised by the defence and struck out 24 paragraphs of the prosecution’s key witness statement after finding them inadmissible as hearsay evidence.

The procedural history is also noteworthy. At the commencement of the constitutional proceedings before the Supreme Court, one of the accused persons applied for a stay of proceedings before the High Court.

The OSP opposed that application and urged the Court to allow the trial to proceed.

Following the Court’s ruling striking out 24 paragraphs of the prosecution’s witness statement, the OSP subsequently filed its own application seeking a stay of proceedings pending the Supreme Court’s determination.

With the latest ruling, the High Court has declined the OSP’s application, clearing the way for the criminal trial to continue on June 23, 2026.

OSP files 15 corruption-related charges against Charles Bissue

BAI

MPs share excitement over Black Stars’ triumph against Panama