The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced the death of the second accused person in the Tema Port rice scandal case involving Issah Seidu and three others.

According to the OSP in a Facebook post on Friday, May 15, 2026, lawyers for the first and third accused persons informed the court during proceedings on May 15, 2026, that the second accused, James Keck Osei, had died.

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The lawyers further stated that the court had already been notified about the development.

The court subsequently directed that official communication on the death of James Keck Osei be conveyed to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

“At today’s hearing, counsel for the Republic informed the Court that proceedings had earlier been adjourned pending the Supreme Court’s determination in Noah Ephraim Adamptey v. Attorney-General. Counsel further indicated that judgment in the matter is yet to be delivered and therefore prayed for an adjournment,” portions of the statement read.

“Counsel for the First and Third Accused persons also notified the Court of the demise of the Second Accused person, James Keck Osei, and stated that the Court had already been informed accordingly. The Court acknowledged the development and directed that official communication on the death of the Second Accused person, James Keck Osei, be conveyed to the Office of the Special Prosecutor,” it continued.

The OSP further stated that during proceedings, counsel for the Republic also informed the court that the matter had previously been adjourned pending the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Noah Ephraim Adamptey v. Attorney-General.

According to the prosecution, judgment in that matter is yet to be delivered, leading to a request for another adjournment.

The first, third and fourth accused persons were present in court during the hearing when the court adjourned the case to June 16, 2026.

Background

An earlier report by GhanaWeb indicated that during a hearing on April 15, 2026, the court was informed that the second accused, James Keck Osei, had been arrested at Kotoka International Airport, now the Accra International Airport, while attempting to leave the country without prior authorisation.

Prosecutors said the accused was intercepted by immigration officials and subsequently handed over to the OSP.

“At yesterday’s sitting, the court was informed that the second accused person had been arrested at Kotoka International Airport while attempting to leave the country without permission, in breach of his bail conditions.

"He was apprehended by immigration officials and subsequently handed over to the OSP,” the OSP said in a statement issued on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

Following the arrest, the OSP applied for the revocation of the accused’s bail and urged the court to remand him into custody pending the conclusion of the trial.

However, lawyers for the accused opposed the application, arguing that their client was travelling to attend a seminar after being nominated by his employer.

“The OSP accordingly applied for the revocation of his bail and prayed the court to remand him into custody pending the conclusion of the trial.

Counsel for the second accused opposed the application, arguing that his client was travelling to attend a seminar upon nomination by his employer,” the statement added.

About Tema Port Rice Scandal case

According to information published on the OSP’s website, the case, referenced CR/0513/2025 and titled Republic v. Issah Seidu & 3 Others, involves four public officials accused of corruption over an attempted unlawful acquisition of 10 containers of imported rice at the Tema Port.

The accused persons are Issah Seidu, James Keck Osei, John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde.

The rice, imported from Thailand in 2022 under lawful procedures and with duties fully paid, was fraudulently claimed by Issah Seidu using an uncertified Bill of Lading and a letter issued without authorisation from the Office of the Vice President, signed by James Keck Osei.

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The alleged scheme was facilitated by two Customs officials, John Abban and Peter Archibold Hyde, who failed to verify ownership and attempted to process the goods for auction in favour of Seidu.

The plot was uncovered following internal reviews and a civil suit, which confirmed that the goods did not belong to Seidu.



MAG/VPO

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