The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged four public officials with corruption and fraud in connection with an attempt to illegally acquire 10 containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.
The accused include:
- Issah Seidu, officer at the National Insurance Commission
- James Keck Osei, former Director at the Office of the Vice President
- John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde, both senior Customs officers
According to the OSP, the officials used forged documents, including a letter purportedly from the Office of the Vice President, to fraudulently claim ownership of rice imported from Thailand in 2022.
Although the goods had been legally imported and all duties paid, the group allegedly sought to bypass standard procedures to have the containers auctioned directly to Seidu.
An internal investigation and High Court ruling uncovered the scheme, halting the fraudulent attempt before it succeeded.
The four suspects now face charges of corruption, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud. They are expected to appear in court on Friday, June 27, 2025.
This case has reignited public concern over procurement fraud and abuse of public office within government institutions.
