The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Tuesday, December 9, arraigned former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine other individuals and companies before the High Court on a 54-count charge involving extortion, abuse of public office, money laundering, and conspiracy. All accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The charges stem from an extensive probe into an alleged GH¢291 million extortion scheme said to have operated between 2022 and 2024. Prosecutors claim senior NPA officials leveraged their regulatory authority to illicitly obtain funds from Oil Marketing Companies and petroleum transporters—amounting to over GH¢291 million and US$332,000, estimated at more than US$24.5 million.
Investigators say portions of the funds were laundered through three companies and used to acquire lands, residential properties, fuel stations, and petroleum haulage trucks, allegedly to conceal the proceeds and strengthen the network’s influence.
The High Court upheld earlier bail conditions and added a requirement for all accused to report to the Registrar on the first and last Tuesday of every month. The prosecution has been ordered to file all disclosures by January 12, 2026, ahead of a scheduled Case Management Conference. The trial marks a significant step in the OSP’s efforts to combat systemic corruption in Ghana’s petroleum sector.