A Businessman has referred a dispute to the Office of Special Prosecutor pointing to the Office of the Vice President in an alleged corruption case.
The businessman who was disputing another businessman over ownership of bags of rice at the Customs Division had requested for the release of these goods and accusing an Administrator at the Office of the Vice President and 3 others Issah Seidu, who works with the National Insurance Commission, and Customs Officers John Abban and Peter Archibold of corrupt practices.
Same goods were allegedly requested by the Administrator from the office of the Vice President, the second highest office in the country to be released, with the other accused person, Issah Seidu also allegedly attempting to clear the same goods. The infuriated businessman then filed a complaint at the OSP.
The Administrator, James Keck Osei and the 3 other persons have consequently been slapped with charges of failing to comply with a lawful demand of an authorised officer.
Investigations are underway but these accused individuals failed to fill out a form to declare their income and properties.
One deputy commissioner was asked to look into the issue and report back and her findings were that the documents presented by A1 (Issah Seidu) were fake and the petitioner was the owner of the goods and should be allowed to clear them. Instructions were given for the release of the goods to the petitioner. On hearing this A1 rushed to the court to file a civil suit against the petitioner and GRA, Emmanuel Basintele, Prosecutor at the OSP told the court during the proceedings.
He thereafter sought to injunct them to prevent the GRA from releasing the goods to the petitioner.
He added that the petitioner chanced on certain documents from the Office of the Vice President requesting for the release of the goods.
It was at this point that the petitioner said he has come across documents from the office of the vice President addressed to the commissioner of customs to release the goods imported by the petitioner to A1 because the office of the vice president wanted to use the rice for Ramadan.
The petitioner has no relationship with the OSP. He is just a Ghanaian who wants to prevent corrupt officials from unlawfully taking his goods from him.
The Administrator at the Office of the Vice President was granted self recognizance bail.
Issah Seidu and Peter Archibold were also granted bail amounting to 10,000 cedis with one surety each.
John Abban, however failed to appear before the court for adjudication and may face possible contempt charges or face stiffer punishment.
