Four Public Officials Charged with Corruption in Tema Port Rice Scandal

Four public officials have been charged with corruption after allegedly hijacking ten containers of rice from an importer at Tema Port in 2022.

The accused — Issah Seidu, James Keck Osei, John Abban, and Peter Archibold Hyde — have been charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for conspiring to claim ten containers of rice that were legally imported from Thailand. According to the OSP, the group used falsified documents, including a forged letter purportedly issued from the office of then Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to secure the goods.

Seidu, an official with the National Insurance Commission, and Keck Osei, a former director at the Vice President’s Secretariat, allegedly colluded with two senior customs officers, Abban and Hyde, to bypass standard procedures and take control of the shipment. Despite duties being paid, the group attempted to auction the rice and award the containers to Seidu.

Their scheme was uncovered following internal investigations and a High Court ruling. All four accused are scheduled to appear in court on Friday, June 27, 2025.