The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has decided to drop the charges against Albert Ankrah, one of the directors of Kel Logistics Ltd, after the fourth accused agreed to testify as a witness for the prosecution in the ongoing criminal case involving former NPA CEO Mustapha Hamid and nine other individuals.
The accused individuals face multiple charges, including theft, extortion, and money laundering, in a corruption case that allegedly involves over GH¢291 million and $300,000 at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
All accused have pleaded not guilty and are currently released on bail.
During the court session on Tuesday, March 10, Adelaide Kubiri Woode, the principal prosecutor from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), informed the court that after discussions with Albert Ankrah, the fourth accused, and his legal counsel, the prosecution has decided to withdraw the charges against him and will instead proceed with him as a witness.
The principal prosecutor also requested additional time to submit a new charge sheet, indicating that this change would alter the prosecution’s strategy.
“We would have requested the adoption of proceedings; however, the Republic received a notice regarding a change of lawyer for the fourth accused, Albert Ankrah. Following this, the fourth accused and his attorney engaged in discussions with authorized prosecution officials regarding how A4 was misled into taking certain actions.
“The office has made the decision not to pursue charges against the fourth accused, Albert Ankrah, but rather to present him as a witness in court.
“This development will significantly impact the charge sheet and the witness statement already filed, as A4 was involved in 12 out of the 54 counts.
“Given these developments, the Republic finds it necessary to file a new charge sheet concerning the other nine accused individuals, excluding A4,” Kubiri Woode explained to the court.
“We will subsequently submit the necessary processes under the guidance and direction of the court. Given these circumstances, the Republic will be unable to move forward with the CMC,” stated the principal prosecutor from the OSP.
Joseph Kpemka, the lead counsel representing the former NPA CEO, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, noted that the prosecution had revised the charge sheet several times and thus requested the court to issue directives compelling the prosecution to hasten the process.
Justice Francis Apongabuno Achibonga subsequently postponed the case until March 24 to provide the prosecution with the opportunity to file an amended charge sheet.
As per the details of the case, Dr. Abdul-Hamid, along with two officials from the NPA — Jacob Kwamina Amuah, who serves as a coordinator for the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), and Wendy Newman, a staff member of the authority — are accused of conspiring to extort more than GH¢291 million and $300,000 from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing firms between 2022 and December 2024.
