Ex-NPA CEO Mustapha Abdul-Hamid Denies GH¢280m Extortion Charges, Challenges OSP Allegations
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has vehemently denied allegations of orchestrating a GH¢280.51 million extortion and money laundering scheme, as charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
In a press statement issued on July 17, 2025, his legal team, Hay & Partners At Law, asserted that Abdul-Hamid has not been formally served with court documents, despite media reports of a 25-count indictment.
“As at the time of issuing this press statement, our client has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction. We are yet to sight any charge sheet,” the statement read.
The OSP alleges that between 2022 and December 2024, Abdul-Hamid, along with NPA’s Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) Coordinator Jacob Kwamina Amuah and staff member Wendy Newman, operated a criminal extortion scheme targeting petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.
According to the OSP, the trio unlawfully collected GH¢280.51 million, with GH¢24 million allegedly handed directly to Abdul-Hamid and GH¢227.23 million channelled through Newman for further disbursement.
The funds were purportedly laundered through three companies—Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.—to acquire properties, fuel trucks, and construct petrol stations. Seven individuals, including Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, alongside the three companies, face charges of extortion by a public officer, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. One suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics, remains at large.
Abdul-Hamid’s legal team, led by Hanifa Yahaya, dismissed the OSP’s claims as “unsubstantiated” and highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution’s narrative.
They noted that earlier OSP allegations in February 2025 accused Abdul-Hamid of embezzling GH¢1.3 billion from the UPPF, later shifting to claims of mismanagement and procurement breaches, before settling on the current extortion charges involving a smaller amount.
“This constant shifting of allegations and figures raises serious questions about the credibility and consistency of the accusations,” the lawyers argued.
To counter the OSP’s claims, the defense presented audited financial records showcasing significant growth in NPA accounts during Abdul-Hamid’s tenure. The UPPF reportedly grew from GH¢53.2 million in 2021 to GH¢1.14 billion by December 2024, while the Price Differential Margin account improved from a negative GH¢18.4 million to a positive GH¢470.6 million over the same period.
“Our client served the nation with utmost integrity and competence,” Yahaya stated, emphasizing Abdul-Hamid’s industry-recognized leadership.
The team categorically denied any involvement in an extortion scheme or personal financial gain, asserting his readiness to contest the charges in court.
The case, set for a hearing on July 23, 2025, at the Criminal Division 3 of the Accra High Court, marks one of Ghana’s most high-profile corruption prosecutions under President John Mahama’s anti-graft campaign. The OSP’s charges test the resilience of Ghana’s anti-corruption framework, with public scrutiny intensifying over the impartiality of the investigation.
As the legal battle unfolds, Abdul-Hamid remains on inquiry bail, vowing to clear his name. “I have never taken a bribe or been part of any illicit scheme during my time at the NPA,” he told AFP
