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OSP uncovers plot to hijack rice containers at Tema Port — four officials charged
OSP uncovers plot to hijack rice containers at Tema Port — four officials charged
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 2 mins read
Four public officials, including a former director at the Vice President’s Secretariat, are facing criminal charges for allegedly conspiring to illegally acquire ten containers of imported rice through fraudulent means at the Tema Port.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), in a statement shared via social media, named the accused as James Keck Osei, formerly with the Vice President’s Secretariat; Issah Seidu of the National Insurance Commission (NIC); and customs officials John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.
The four are expected to appear before court on Friday, June 27, 2025, on charges of corruption-related offences.
According to the OSP, the rice — imported from Thailand in 2022 — was lawfully brought into the country with all necessary duties paid. However, Seidu is alleged to have used forged documents, including a fake letter purportedly from the Office of the Vice President, to fraudulently claim the goods.
The statement added that the scheme was made possible through the help of Osei and the two customs officials, who allegedly manipulated official processes to override existing customs protocols. The group then attempted to auction the goods to Seidu, disguising the transaction as legal.
The plan, however, collapsed following internal scrutiny and a High Court ruling that exposed the irregularities. The suspects were subsequently charged after investigations confirmed their involvement.
In a separate but related anti-corruption initiative, the OSP has reiterated its commitment to transparency and asset recovery through a recent media training workshop.
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), in collaboration with GIABA, organised the training to build media capacity on the legal procedures for confiscating assets connected to corruption and financial crimes. The event brought together law enforcement agencies including the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).
Speaking during the session, Albert Akurugu, Director of Asset Recovery and Management at the OSP, explained the office’s legal mandate in tracing, freezing, and recovering illicit assets.
He clarified that such actions are part of lawful investigations and not arbitrary seizures.
“The media must raise public awareness, promote transparency, and hold institutions to account through accurate and responsible reporting,” Akurugu noted.
The session aimed to promote collaboration between journalists and anti-corruption institutions in the fight against financial crimes.
