The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has brought a sweeping indictment against the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and six other officials of the Authority, as well as three corporate entities, for alleged corruption.
They face a host of charges, including extortion and money laundering, in connection with an alleged GH¢280.5 million corruption scheme that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s petroleum sector.
The charges, totalling 25 counts, were filed before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, following extensive investigations initiated by the OSP in late 2024.
The probe delved into alleged unlawful conduct involving the diversion of public funds and collusion with various oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.
At the heart of the alleged scheme are Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former NPA CEO; Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at NPA and Managing Director of three implicated companies; and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member.
They are accused of orchestrating and operating a criminal extortion ring between 2022 and December 2024.
The OSP alleged that the three, operating under the guise of their official duties, unlawfully collected a staggering GH¢280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.
The OSP asserts that this scheme, initiated by Abdul-Hamid and executed by Amuah and Newman, operated without any lawful mandate, exploiting their positions within the NPA.
Further details emerging from the OSP’s investigation reveal the alleged flow of these illicit funds.
Jacob Kwamina Amuah is accused of directly handing GH¢24 million to Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024.
An additional GH¢227.2 million was reportedly channeled through Wendy Newman under Amuah’s direction for further distribution, painting a picture of a sophisticated network designed to enrich those involved.
The investigation also implicated four other individuals and the three corporate entities – Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited – in the money laundering aspect of the operation.
Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, and Bright Bediako-Mensah, are alleged to have created Kel Logistics Limited and Kings Energy Limited, along with Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, a director of Kings Energy Limited, to have set up these companies as vehicles for siphoning the monies.
They did this with a director of Kel Logistics Limited, Osei Tutu Adjei, who is currently at large.
These individuals and companies are accused of using the corporate vehicles to launder the illicit proceeds.
The laundered funds were reportedly used to acquire and construct houses, purchase trucks for an oil distribution business, and build fuel stations, all in an attempt to conceal and disguise the criminal origin of the money.
The charges levelled against the accused include Extortion by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29); Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, contrary to Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044); and Money Laundering, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044.
All seven individuals and the three companies have been apprehended and are awaiting a court date for their pleas to be taken.
In a statement signed by Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research & Communication for the OSP, the office reiterated its unwavering commitment to investigating and prosecuting corruption and corruption-related offences “without fear or favour.”
The OSP also urged all public institutions to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of corruption to aid in the fight against graft.
