The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged four public officials, including a National Insurance Commission officer and a former Vice President’s staffer, following allegations of conspiring to steal 10 containers of imported rice at Tema Port.

According to an OSP statement on X, Issah Seidu, James Keck Osei, John Abban, and Peter Archibald Hyde are accused of using forged documents—one purportedly from the Office of the Vice President—to fraudulently claim rice imported from Thailand in 2022.

Seidu allegedly orchestrated the scam and attempted to auction the seized goods to himself.

OSP investigations revealed that Seidu and Osei, a former director at the Vice President’s Secretariat, collaborated with Customs officials Abban and Hyde to bypass standard clearance procedures, despite duties having been paid.

The illicit plot was uncovered through internal audits and a High Court ruling, which exposed the fake documents and halted the scheme.

Sources confirm that measures were taken following the seizure of the rice containers, triggering a full investigation by the OSP.

The four suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 27, 2025, to face charges including corruption, wire fraud, and document forgery.