The Office of the Specila Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged four public officials with corruption in connection with an attempt to unlawfully acquire 10 containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.
The accused have been identified as Issah Seidu of the National Insurance Commission, James Keck Osei, a former Director at the former Vice President’s Secretariat, and Customs officers John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.
In a statement, the OSP explained they allegedly conspired to seize the containers using forged documents and a falsified letter purporting to originate from the Office of the Vice President.
The rice was legally imported from Thailand in 2022 and all required duties had been duly paid. However, Seidu, with support from the other accused, attempted to secure the release of the containers through the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) auction process under false pretences.
The OSP revealed that the accused persons manipulated official processes with the aim of diverting the containers for their personal gain.
However, GRA’s internal investigations coupled with a High Court ruling, exposed the scheme.
The four are expected to appear before court on Friday, 27 June 2025, to answer to multiple counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, corruption, and abuse of public office.
