OSP Probes GHS25.8m Palm Oil Diversion Scheme

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has begun investigating an alleged corruption scheme involving the diversion of 50 20-foot containers of palm oil worth GHS25.8 million into Ghana’s local market.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, the OSP said the shipment had been declared as transit cargo bound for Burkina Faso but was instead redirected into the domestic market without the payment of required duties and taxes. The alleged diversion is believed to have caused a tax loss of about GHS10.5 million.

The development follows a February 18 operation by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division, which intercepted 18 articulated trucks at the Akanu and Aflao border posts. The trucks, reportedly carrying cooking oil, spaghetti and tomato paste destined for Niger, were found to have breached transit regulations, including the absence of mandatory Customs Human Escorts. Authorities estimated potential tax infractions of GH¢85.3 million linked to the interception.

The scale of the incident prompted Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to impose an immediate ban on the land transit of cooking oil, directing that such consignments must pass exclusively through Ghana’s seaports.

According to the OSP, preliminary findings point to the alleged involvement of some Customs officers, National Security operatives and clearing agents, indicating that the scheme may cut across several state institutions. The probe stems from an intelligence-led operation launched in November 2025.

Although no individuals have yet been named, the OSP affirmed its commitment to safeguarding public funds and ensuring accountability as investigations continue.