The Accra High Court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢2 million to the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, during his appearance before the court.
During court proceedings on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, according to a 3news.com report, Dr Abdul-Hamid pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, relating to an alleged extortion and money laundering scheme during his tenure as CEO of the NPA.
The case has been adjourned, with further proceedings expected in the coming weeks.
Dr Abdul-Hamid has been charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), alongside six other individuals and three companies, for their alleged involvements in a GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
The case follows months of investigations into alleged corruption at the NPA.
A charge sheet signed by the OSP’s Director of Prosecutions, Dr Isidore Tufuor, and filed on July 16, 2025, outlines 25 counts, including: conspiracy to commit extortion by a public officer (Sections 23(1) and 239(1)&(3) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 – Act 29), extortion by a public officer, conspiracy to commit money laundering (anti-money laundering act, 2020 – act 1044), and money laundering.
The OSP alleges that between December 2022 and December 2024, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah (Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund – UPPF), and Wendy Newman (NPA Audit Department staff) used their positions to extort GH¢280,516,127.19 from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies without any lawful mandate.
The investigations further revealed that the illicit funds were laundered through three companies – Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited – allegedly owned or managed by some of the accused persons.
According to the OSP, the money was used to purchase and construct houses, acquire trucks for an oil distribution business, and build fuel stations – all aimed at concealing the illegal proceeds.
