Former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, along with nine others, has been formally charged in connection with the alleged extortion of GHC291 million from companies in Ghana’s petroleum sector. The case is currently before the Criminal High Court in Accra.
The charges span activities alleged to have occurred between December 2022 and December 2024 and implicate several senior NPA officials and three private firms. Prosecutors claim the group conspired to illegally secure funds from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies.
Among those charged are Jacob Kwamina Amuah, former Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF); Wendy Newman, an NPA audit officer; Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, as well as companies Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the accused “acted together with a common purpose” to extort GHC291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47, funds they were allegedly not authorized to collect.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, who has also served as Minister for Zongo and Inner Cities Development and is a prominent NPP figure, faces additional personal charges. The allegations include receiving GHC24 million through intermediaries in 2024, and further extortion claims during his tenure as NPA CEO and Chairperson of the UPPF Management Committee between July 2022 and March 2023.
The OSP has indicated that the case is part of a broader investigation into financial irregularities within Ghana’s petroleum distribution sector.
Lawyers representing Dr. Abdul-Hamid have rejected the claims, asserting that their client has no connection to the funds or assets referenced in the investigation.
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