Vice President’s Office Falsely Invoked in Failed Attempt to Hijack Imported Goods
A shocking corruption scheme involving top public officials and senior customs officers has been uncovered by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), exposing how a network of insiders allegedly attempted to fraudulently divert 10 containers of imported rice at Tema Port using forged documents and high-level deception.
At the centre of the alleged plot is Issah Seidu, an official with the National Insurance Commission, who is accused of falsely laying claim to the rice using forged documentation, including a letter purportedly from the Office of the Vice President.
Seidu is not believed to have acted alone. Investigators have also charged James Keck Osei, a former Director at the Vice President’s Secretariat, along with senior Customs officials John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde. The four are facing charges of corruption of public officers, using public office for profit, and attempting to commit the criminal offence of stealing.
High-Stakes Deception Unfolds at Tema Port
The rice, which was legally imported from Thailand in 2022, had its duties fully paid. Yet, the accused allegedly conspired to circumvent customs procedures in a bid to illegally auction the containers to Seidu.
According to the OSP, the group’s manipulation of the system relied on their official positions and influence within key government institutions, including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Vice President’s Secretariat.
The turning point came when internal investigations and a High Court ruling unraveled the fraudulent activity—preventing the illicit transfer of the rice containers and revealing a broader abuse of office for personal gain.
Vice President’s Office Dragged Into Scandal
What has raised even more eyebrows is the false invocation of the Office of the Vice President, which was used to give credibility to the scheme. While there is no indication of the Vice President’s direct involvement, the misuse of his office’s name has sparked calls for greater scrutiny of how state credentials are managed and protected from abuse.
“This is a textbook example of how public trust and official authority can be weaponised for personal profit,” one anti-corruption analyst remarked.
Court Proceedings Ahead
The four accused individuals are expected to appear before the High Court in Accra on Friday, June 27, 2025. The OSP has indicated that the case forms part of a broader strategy to dismantle entrenched corruption networks within public institutions.
The prosecution’s success or failure could set a crucial precedent in Ghana’s fight against public sector corruption—particularly within the sensitive operations of ports and customs.
