OSP Charges Former NPA Boss Mustapha Hamid, 9 Others Over GHC280m Scandal
Former NPA CEO Mustapha Hamid among 10 charged in alleged multi-million cedi extortion and money laundering scheme involving top officials and oil sector companies.
- Former NPA CEO Mustapha Hamid and 9 others charged in GHC280m scandal
- OSP alleges extortion and laundering of petroleum funds through front companies
- Accused face 25 counts; one suspect remains at large
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed criminal charges against ten entities—including former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) CEO Mustapha Abdul-Hamid—in connection with a massive GHC280 million extortion and money laundering scheme allegedly operated within the petroleum regulatory body.
The accused include seven individuals and three companies—Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.—who are believed to have played various roles in diverting and laundering state funds between 2022 and 2024.
According to the OSP, investigations revealed that Dr. Abdul-Hamid, together with Jacob Kwamina Amuah and Wendy Newman, leveraged their official positions to unlawfully extort money from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The illegal cash collections were then laundered through a web of transactions involving corporate fronts and accomplices.
Amuah is alleged to have handed over GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid in 2024, while another GHC227.2 million was funneled through Newman under Amuah’s direction. The funds were reportedly used to acquire fuel stations, delivery trucks, and other assets aimed at disguising the illicit origin of the money.
Others charged include:
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Jacob Kwamina Amuah – UPPF Coordinator and MD of several implicated companies
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Wendy Newman – Staff, NPA
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Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Directors of Kel Logistics and Kings Energy
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Three companies: Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., Kings Energy Ltd.
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One suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, remains at large and is being pursued by authorities.
All ten accused face a total of 25 charges, including:
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Extortion by a public officer
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Conspiracy to commit money laundering
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Money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act
They are expected to appear before the Accra High Court (Criminal Division) on a yet-to-be-announced date for the commencement of proceedings.
The OSP has reiterated its resolve to tackle corruption at all levels and urged the public to support anti-graft efforts by reporting misconduct in public institutionsNPA
