The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged four public officials, including a former Director at the former Vice President’s Secretariat, James Keck Osei, in connection with an alleged conspiracy to steal 10 containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.
The other accused persons are Issah Seidu, an official with the National Insurance Commission; and two senior Customs officials, John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.
In a statement posted on X, the OSP disclosed that Seidu and Osei allegedly conspired with Abban and Hyde to bypass standard customs procedures and unlawfully acquire the goods.
The rice, imported from Thailand in 2022, was legally cleared with duties fully paid. However, according to the OSP, Seidu fraudulently claimed the containers using forged documents, including a fake letter purportedly issued from the Office of the Vice President.
“Despite the rice being legally imported and duties paid, the group tried to auction the containers to Seidu. Their plot collapsed after internal investigations and a High Court ruling exposed the scheme,” the OSP’s statement said.
The four accused individuals are expected to appear before court on Friday, June 27, 2025, to face charges including corruption, wire fraud, and document forgery.