Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially charged Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), along with nine others, in connection with a GH₵280 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
The charges follow investigations launched in late 2024 into the alleged diversion of public funds and collusion with oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 17 July 2025, the OSP revealed that a total of seven individuals and three companies face 25 charges, including extortion by a public officer and money laundering.
The accused are: Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former CEO of the NPA; Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at the NPA and Managing Director of Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited; Wendy Newman, staff member at the NPA; Albert Ankrah, Director at Kel Logistics Limited; Isaac Mensah, Director at Kel Logistics Limited; Bright Bediako-Mensah, Director at Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited; and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Director at Kings Energy Limited.
The charged companies include Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
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The OSP stated that between 2022 and December 2024, Dr Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman allegedly used their positions to run an unlawful scheme that extorted GH₵280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing firms.
According to investigators, the operation was initiated by Dr Abdul-Hamid and carried out by Amuah and Newman.
The OSP described the scheme as having “no legal basis” and a “blatant abuse of office.”
From the proceeds, Jacob Amuah allegedly delivered GH₵24 million in cash directly to Dr Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024.
Additionally, GH₵227.2 million was reportedly transferred through Wendy Newman, under Amuah’s instructions, for further disbursement.
The OSP further disclosed that the remaining accused, Ankrah, Mensah, Bediako-Mensah, and Acquaah, worked with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Limited to set up three shell companies: Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
These companies were allegedly used to launder the stolen funds.
According to the OSP’s findings, the laundered money was used to buy and build residential properties, acquire petroleum haulage trucks, and set up fuel stations, measures taken to conceal the criminal origin of the money.
All ten parties now face 25 charges, including Extortion by a Public Officer under Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering under Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), and Money Laundering under Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044.
One more suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of one of the involved companies, is currently at large and being sought by law enforcement.
The individuals already arrested are expected to appear in court on a yet-to-be-announced date to enter their pleas.
In its statement, the OSP reaffirmed its commitment to fighting corruption, saying: “The Office remains resolute in investigating and prosecuting corruption and corruption-related offences without fear or favour.”
It urged civil society and public institutions to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to help protect public resources and uphold Ghana’s democratic values.
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