The immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, along with nine others, including three companies, appeared before the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra on Tuesday.
They face 25 counts of criminal charges in connection with an alleged GH¢280 million corruption scandal.
The charges, brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), include conspiracy to commit a crime, extortion by a public officer, money laundering, and abuse of public office for private gain.
Presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, granted each accused person bail in the sum of GH¢2 million, with 17 sureties. The case has been adjourned to August 26, 2025 and is scheduled to be heard virtually.
The first accused (A1) is Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former CEO of the NPA and Chairperson of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), followed by Jacob Kwamina Amuah (A2) – UPPF Coordinator and alleged Managing Director of several implicated companies and Wendy Newman (A3) – Staff member, Audit Department, NPA.
The others are Albert Ankrah (A4), Isaac Mensah (A5), Bright Bediako-Mensah (A6), Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah (A7), Directors of Propnest Limited (A8), Kellogistics Limited (A9) and Kings Energy Limited (A10).
All ten accused persons and entities have pleaded not guilty.
Despite raising concerns over the flight risk posed by Abdul-Hamid and Amuah, Special Prosecutor KissiAgyebeng did not oppose the granting of bail.
The court ordered the prosecution to file all disclosures and witness statements within one month.
Additionally, all accused persons must submit the names and addresses of any intended defense witnesses, and those intending to raise an alibi must file the necessary notice with the court registry.
Summary of Allegations
According to the Special Prosecutor, investigations revealed that between 2022 and December 2024 the first three accused – Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman – orchestrated an extortion scheme targeting oil marketing companies and bulk oil transporters using their official positions at the NPA.
A total of GH¢280.5 million was allegedly obtained in unauthorised payments, with GH¢24 million directly handed to Abdul-Hamid by Amuah between January and December 2024. Additionally, GH¢227.2 million reportedly passed through Newman, who is said to have acted under Amuah’s instructions.
The prosecution stated that the illicit proceeds were laundered through Propnest Limited, Kellogistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited — companies allegedly created and managed by some of the accused to purchase properties, vehicles, and fuel stations in order to disguise the source of the funds.
Detailed Background
Mustapha Abdul-Hamid served as CEO of the NPA from July 2021 until January 2025. The alleged offenses surfaced during a broader investigation into financial mismanagement and corruption within Ghana’s petroleum regulatory framework.
The Second Accused, Amuah, served as UPPF Coordinator and held several senior positions since joining the NPA in 2008. He is alleged to be the Managing Director of the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Accused companies.
The Third Accused, Newman, was an NPA employee and allegedly acted as a financial conduit in the scheme.
According to the prosecution, Abdul-Hamid conceived the extortion scheme and recruited Amuah, who in turn involved Newman.
They allegedly extracted GH¢280,516,127.19 from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing firms under false pretences.
Out of the total amount, GH¢24 million was given directly to Abdul-Hamid, while GH¢227,232,323.58 was funneled through Newman on Amuah’s instructions.
The Fourth to Seventh Accused, together with a fugitive named Osei Tutu Adjei, allegedly helped set up and manage the three implicated companies (A8, A9, A10) to launder the funds.
The proceeds were allegedly used to acquire real estate, oil distribution trucks, and fuel stations all intended to conceal the illicit origins of the money and avoid legal consequences.
The accused were apprehended following months of surveillance and charged in accordance with the findings.
