The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Tuesday, December 9, arraigned former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, together with nine other individuals and companies, before the High Court.
The accused appeared before Criminal Court 4 to face a consolidated 54-count charge sheet outlining allegations of Extortion, Abuse of Public Office for Profit, Money Laundering, and Conspiracy. All ten defendants pleaded not guilty.
Alleged GH¢291 Million Scheme
The charges follow an extensive OSP probe into an alleged extortion ring said to have operated between 2022 and 2024. Prosecutors claim the first three accused—senior NPA officials—exploited their regulatory authority to extract huge sums from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and transporters.
The alleged proceeds include:
- Over GH¢291 million
- US$332,000 Together, this represents a criminal enterprise valued at more than US$24.5 million, highlighting the scale of the alleged financial misconduct in Ghana’s petroleum sector.
Money Laundering and Asset Acquisition
Court documents allege that the illicit funds were laundered through three companies created by the accused. The laundered money was then used to acquire strategic assets such as:
- Lands and residential properties
- Fuel stations
- Haulage trucks for petroleum transport
Prosecutors argue these acquisitions were designed to entrench the network’s influence and obscure the financial trail.
Regulatory Power at the Core
The NPA, established under Act 691 of 2005, regulates Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry. Prosecutors contend that the authority vested in the accused—particularly the former Chief Executive—was corruptly abused for personal enrichment.
The OSP has already frozen assets and bank accounts worth over GH¢100 million linked to the investigation, to prevent dissipation of suspected illicit wealth.
Court Directions
The High Court upheld bail conditions previously set by Criminal Court 3 but added a requirement that the accused report to the Registrar on the first and last Tuesday of each month.
The prosecution has been ordered to file all mandatory disclosures by January 12, 2026, ahead of a Case Management Conference (CMC) to set timelines for trial.
The case marks a significant test of the OSP’s determination to confront entrenched corruption within Ghana’s critical economic sectors.
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