Office of the Special Prosecutor probes GH¢25.8m palm oil diversion scheme

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has opened an investigation into an alleged corruption network linked to the illegal diversion of 50 twenty-foot containers of palm oil valued at GH¢25.8 million into the domestic market.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the OSP said the shipment was declared as transit cargo bound for Burkina Faso but was unlawfully redirected for sale within Ghana without payment of duties and taxes. Authorities estimate the diversion resulted in tax losses of about GH¢10.5 million.

Earlier, on February 18, 2026, the Ghana Revenue Authority, through its Customs Division, intercepted 18 articulated trucks at the Akanu and Aflao border posts. The vehicles were transporting assorted goods including cooking oil, spaghetti, and tomato paste  declared for transit to Niger.

The operation uncovered tax evasion estimated at GH¢85.3 million, with sources indicating the cargo was moving without the mandatory Customs Human Escort required under Ghana’s transit regulations.

Following the discovery, Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson ordered an immediate ban on the land transit of cooking oil, directing that such consignments must enter and exit the country exclusively through Ghana’s seaports.

According to the OSP, preliminary findings point to the involvement of some Customs officers, National Security operatives, and clearing agents, suggesting the scheme spans multiple state institutions.

The probe stems from an intelligence-led operation launched in November 2025, indicating authorities had monitored the suspected network for months before announcing the investigation.

Established under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), the OSP is mandated to independently investigate and prosecute corruption-related offences, particularly those involving public officials.

The Special Prosecutor’s office did not name suspects but assured the public that investigations are ongoing.

“As the process continues, the Office remains committed to protecting the public purse and upholding integrity,” the statement said.