The former Chief Executive Officer of National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others, including three companies, accused of their alleged involvement in extortion and money laundering within the NPA, have appeared before the Criminal Division 3 of the High Court in Accra on Wednesday, July 23, 2025.
Sources at the court said the accused persons, who were present with their lawyers, were granted Gh¢2 million bail each.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), an independent anti-corruption agency in Ghana, charged them for allegedly using their official positions to orchestrate a scheme that unlawfully diverted funds from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies between 2022 and December 2024, which Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid vehemently denied.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, who is the first accused in the case, alongside Jacob Kwamena Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and Wendy Newman, an NPA employee, are required to produce two sureties each, both of whom must earn a net monthly salary of not less than GH¢5,000, with their salaries to be justified.
Additionally, they are also to report to the OSP every two weeks as investigations continue.
They have all pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion by a public officer, use of public office for profit, and money laundering.
The court also granted bail to four additional individuals—Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquah—who face similar charges. Each was granted GH¢2 million bail, but with three sureties, including one backed by landed property. They too must report to the OSP biweekly.
The remaining accused persons—yet to be named—include corporate entities allegedly involved in the grand scheme of corruption and financial misconduct within the petroleum sector between 2022 and 2024.
According to prosecutors, the accused allegedly operated an elaborate scheme targeting Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs), using their public office to extort funds. Investigations suggest that proceeds from the scheme were laundered into real estate, luxury vehicles, and fuel stations.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
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