The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revised the charges in the prominent corruption case involving Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid. He is the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). Nine other individuals are also involved. The total counts have been raised from 25 to 54 because of new evidence.
The updated charge sheet outlines 54 criminal allegations against NPA officials and various related companies for purported large-scale extortion, misuse of public office, and money laundering, totaling GH¢297,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47.
As stated by the OSP, the defendants are accused of extorting hundreds of millions of cedis and foreign currency from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing firms under the pretense of performing official duties, subsequently laundering the proceeds through property acquisitions and business ventures to hide their illegal origins.
The individuals facing charges include:
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina An-wan, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah.
The corporate entities implicated in the charges are Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
Additionally, the OSP has confirmed the seizure and freezing of assets belonging to the accused, which include tanker trucks, fuel stations, residential properties, apartments, and land parcels valued at over GH¢100 million, pending the trial.
Investigators report that the accused purportedly ran a coordinated operation aimed at Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs), with the illicitly obtained funds directed towards luxury real estate, vehicles, and fuel stations.
On July 23, Dr. Abdul-Hamid was granted bail set at GH¢2 million in relation to the ongoing extortion and money laundering investigation. Among the conditions of his bail, he must provide two sureties, each with a net monthly income of no less than GH¢5,000, which must be verified.
Additionally, he is required to report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) biweekly as investigations and legal proceedings progress.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, identified as the primary accused in the case, along with his co-defendants, is alleged to have participated in a significant corruption scheme from 2022 to 2024, during which substantial amounts of money were illicitly extracted through fraudulent activities in the petroleum industry.
