Tema: Four public officers have been charged with alleged corruption by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) after conspiring to hijack 10 containers of imported rice at Tema Port. The accused individuals are Issah Seidu, James Keck Osei, John Abban, and Peter Archibold Hyde.
According to Ghana News Agency, the charges against them include corruption of public officers, using public office for profit, and attempting to commit the criminal offense of stealing. The rice, which was imported from Thailand in 2022, was fraudulently claimed by Seidu using fake documents and a letter falsely issued from the Office of the Vice President.
Seidu, an employee of the National Insurance Commission, and Osei, a former Director at the Vice President's Secretariat, allegedly collaborated with two senior Customs officials, Abban and Hyde, to override customs processes and secure the goods. Despite the rice being legally imported and duties paid, the group attempted to auction the containers to Seidu.
The plot was uncovered following internal investigations and a High Court ruling that exposed the scheme. The four officials are scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, June 27, 2025.
