The Office of Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has responded to the media reportage on a letter from the office seeking assistance in clearing fifteen containers of rice.
In a press statement dated February 14, 2023 and signed by the Secretary to the Vice President Augustine Blay stated that the office had already commenced investigations into the fifteen containers of rice before the Special Prosecutor came in.
Mr. Blay further stated that the Ghana Revenue Authority rejected Mr. James Keck Osei’s request seeking assistance in clearing 15 containers of rice imported from Thailand in April 2022.
“On 27th April 2022, Mr. James Keck Osei addressed an authorized letter to the Commissioner General of GRA seeking assistance in clearing fifteen containers of rice. Among others, the letter falsely conveyed that the Office needed the container of rice for the Ramadan festivities,” he added.
Attached is the full statement
Background
The Criminal Division of the Accra High Court has been told that the Office of the Vice President wrote to the Commissioner of the Customs Division to release bags of imported rice which has led to the latest prosecution of three persons by the Special Prosecutor.
The said documents from the office of the Vice President addressed to the Commissioner of Customs had demanded a release of the goods imported by the petitioner to the first accused person (A1) because the office of the vice president wanted to use the rice for Ramadan.
Four persons Issah Seidu, James Keck Osei, John Abban, and Peter Archibold Hyde have been charged in a matter in which a businessman who was battling another businessman over ownership of the same goods had filed a complaint at the Office of Special Prosecutor.
Keck Osei together with three others Issah Seidu, National Insurance Commission, Customs Officers John Abban, and Peter Archibold were charged and arraigned on Monday, February 13, and pleaded not guilty.
In Court on Monday, before Justice Comfort Tasiame, three of the four pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to comply with a lawful demand of an authorised officer.
“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,” Prosecutor at the Office of Special Prosecutor Emmanuel Basintele told the court.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Bernice Mensah
