Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has categorically denied all allegations levelled against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP’s), describing them as baseless, inconsistent, and defamatory.
In a statement issued through his lawyer, Hanifa Yahaya of Hay and Partners at Law, Dr. Abdul Hamid dismissed accusations of extortion and money laundering in connection with a purported GH¢280.5 million corruption scandal, stating that he has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction and has not been served with any formal charge sheet.
Allegations shifting without clarity
According to the legal team, the OSP has shifted the narrative multiple times since it first made claims in February 2025 that Dr. Abdul Hamid was under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF).
The statement recalled that in a letter dated February 17, 2025, Dr. Abdul Hamid wrote to the Special Prosecutor, demanding a retraction of the public pronouncement linking him to the alleged financial malfeasance—an action that, to date, has not been honoured by the OSP.
Later, on February 25, 2025, Dr. Abdul Hamid was invited by the OSP for questioning over alleged mismanagement of the UPPF and procurement breaches.
However, his lawyers argued that the charges have now morphed into accusations of extortion involving unnamed victims and money laundering, with the amount involved reduced to GH¢280 million.
Dr. Abdul Hamid is alleged to have initiated the extortion scheme and personally benefited by receiving GH¢24 million.
He vehemently denies these claims.
No involvement in any extortion scheme
“Our client categorically denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme, either directly or indirectly, in any form or manner,” the statement emphasised.
“He further denies receiving any personal benefit from any such alleged extortion.”
The legal team described the latest accusations as a continuation of attempts to damage the reputation of a man who served the country with diligence and distinction.
They stressed that Dr. Abdul Hamid’s tenure as NPA CEO between 2021 and 2024 was marked by transparency, professionalism, and financial transformation of the institution.
NPA accounts grew exponentially under Hamid
The statement cited official NPA financial records to support its claims. When Dr. Abdul Hamid assumed office in 2021, the balances in the four main NPA accounts stood at:
UPPF – GH¢53,216,549.00
PDM – (GH¢18,411,166.00)
PPMS – GH¢20,070,421.00
Operational Account – GH¢53,333,402.00
By December 31, 2024, under his stewardship, those balances had grown exponentially to:
UPPF – GH¢1,144,429,432.00
PDM – GH¢470,671,174.00
PPMS – GH¢90,749,255.00
Operational Account – GH¢237,928,890.00
“These figures are not merely bookkeeping. They are a testament to our client’s fiscal discipline, managerial competence, and integrity,” the lawyers said.
“The internet is replete with testimonies from key industry players attesting to Dr. Abdul Hamid’s transformative leadership of the NPA.”
Prepared to fight and clear his name
Dr. Abdul Hamid’s legal team reiterated that he is fully prepared to contest any charges brought against him and is confident that the truth of his innocence will prevail in court.
“Our client is ready to defend his good name. He has nothing to hide,” the statement added.
OSP outlines charges involving multiple parties
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the alleged laundered funds were used to purchase trucks, construct fuel stations, and acquire real estate assets under an oil distribution business—all in a bid to disguise the criminal origin of the money.
At the centre of the alleged corruption ring are Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, the Coordinator of the UPPF and Managing Director of three implicated companies, and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member.
The charges listed by the OSP 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)
However, Dr. Abdul Hamid insists that he is not guilty of any of these allegations and has called on the OSP to produce credible evidence or withdraw the accusations altogether.
