The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has brought corruption-related charges against four public officials in connection with a failed scheme to fraudulently obtain ten containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.
Those charged include Issah Seidu, an officer at the National Insurance Commission; James Keck Osei, a former Director at the Office of the Vice President; and two senior Customs officers, John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.
An official statement from the OSP revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to lay claim to rice imported from Thailand in 2022 by presenting forged documents.
Among the falsified papers was a letter purportedly issued by the Office of the Vice President—an inclusion that initially lent the scheme a misleading air of authenticity.
Although the rice had been legally brought into the country and all duties had been fully settled, Seidu and his collaborators reportedly tried to bypass regular customs protocols in an attempt to have the goods auctioned directly to him.
However, the plan unraveled after an internal investigation and a High Court ruling that exposed the fraudulent activity.
The four accused persons are facing charges of corruption, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud. They are scheduled to appear before court on Friday, 27 June 2025.
The case has attracted considerable public interest, raising further concerns about misuse of public office and integrity in Ghana’s procurement and port operations.
