The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged four high-ranking public officials in connection with a brazen attempt to illegally claim and auction 10 containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.
According to a statement issued via the OSP’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the accused—Issah Seidu of the National Insurance Commission, James Keck Osei, a former director at the Office of the Vice President, and Customs officers John Abban and Peter Archibald Hyde—allegedly conspired to divert rice shipments imported from Thailand in 2022.
Investigators say Seidu masterminded the fraudulent scheme by using fake documents, including one bearing a forged letterhead of the Office of the Vice President. With the help of his collaborators, the plan involved falsely claiming the rice containers and attempting to auction them to himself, despite full duties having already been paid by the legitimate importers.
OSP findings reveal that Abban and Hyde, in their capacity as Customs officials, facilitated the clearance of the goods by deliberately bypassing standard procedures. Their actions, combined with Seidu and Osei’s forged paperwork, enabled the group to unlawfully take possession of the high-value cargo.
The conspiracy unraveled following internal audits and a decisive ruling by a High Court, which exposed the forged documents and abruptly halted the illicit transaction. The containers were subsequently seized, prompting a comprehensive investigation by the Special Prosecutor’s office.
“The individuals involved sought to exploit their positions in public service for personal enrichment,” the OSP stated. “This case underscores the need for heightened vigilance and accountability within Ghana’s ports and public institutions.”
The four accused are expected to appear before a criminal court on Friday, June 27, 2025, where they will face charges including corruption, conspiracy to commit fraud, and forgery of official documents.
The prosecution is seen as a major test of the OSP’s mandate to tackle high-level corruption and restore public trust in state institutions.
