The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reaffirmed the gravity of the ongoing criminal case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has reaffirmed the gravity of the ongoing criminal case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, following a viral video in which he dismissed the prosecution as “useless.”
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, the first accused, is currently on trial before the Criminal High Court in Accra on multiple counts of corruption and financial crimes.
According to the OSP, the charges against him include:
- Conspiracy to Commit Extortion by a Public Officer – together with two NPA officials, Dr. Abdul-Hamid is alleged to have conspired to extort GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47 from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies between December 2022 and December 2024.
- Two Counts of Extortion by a Public Officer – for the unlawful collection of GH¢24 million and US$230,000 from oil transporters and haulage firms under the guise of official duties.
- Two Counts of Using Public Office for Profit – for allegedly exploiting his position as NPA Chief Executive for personal financial benefit.
- Money Laundering – after being found in possession of GH¢15,343,251.29, an amount deemed disproportionate to his legitimate income and suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The OSP alleges that Dr. Abdul-Hamid played a central role in an extensive extortion and laundering scheme, which caused the State and the petroleum sector losses exceeding GH¢291 million and over US$330,000.
As part of its investigations, the OSP has seized and frozen assets valued at over GH¢100 million and more than US$100,000, with further properties currently being traced. The office stated that these actions are supported by documentary, banking, and transaction evidence directly linking the funds to the alleged offenses.
The OSP emphasized that the prosecution marks a significant step in safeguarding public resources and promoting accountability, stressing that “no public official is above the law.”
It further noted that the scale of the alleged losses makes the case a critical test of Ghana’s resolve to combat corruption.
The trial is set to resume on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Criminal High Court in Accra.