The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed charges against four public officials for corruption-related offenses after an unsuccessful attempt to illegally obtain ten containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.
The individuals 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 officials, John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.
As stated in an official announcement from the OSP, the accused colluded to falsely assert ownership of rice imported from Thailand in 2022 by using forged documents.
Among the counterfeit documents was a letter purportedly issued by the Office of the Vice President—a crucial detail that initially lent the scheme an appearance of credibility.
Even though the containers were legally imported and all duties were paid in full, Seidu and his accomplices tried to bypass customs procedures to have the goods auctioned directly to him. However, their plan was thwarted by an internal investigation and a significant High Court ruling that revealed the fraud.
The four individuals are facing charges of corruption, forgery, and conspiracy to defraud, and they are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, 27 June 2025.
The high-profile nature of this case has attracted public scrutiny regarding the misuse of public office and procurement fraud.
Source: HotFmOnline.com
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