OSP Files Criminal Charges Against Former NPA CEO, Others in GH¢280m Extortion, Money Laundering Scandal
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed criminal charges against seven individuals and three companies, including former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, over an alleged GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
A statement issued by the OSP on Thursday, July 17, detailed that the charges follow extensive investigations launched in late 2024 into widespread financial malfeasance within the petroleum downstream sector.
According to the OSP, between 2022 and December 2024, Dr Abdul-Hamid, acting in concert with Jacob Kwamina Amuah—then Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund—and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member, orchestrated a criminal enterprise that extorted funds from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies (OMCs) under the pretext of regulatory operations.
“The scheme… lacked any lawful mandate and exploited their positions within the NPA,” the OSP noted, adding that a total of GH¢280,516,127.19 was illicitly collected from industry operators.
Per the findings, GH¢24 million was directly handed to Dr Abdul-Hamid by Amuah, while a further GH¢227.2 million was transferred through Newman at Amuah’s instruction.
Three companies—Kel Logistics, Kings Energy, and Propnest Ltd—were allegedly used to launder the proceeds. The directors of these entities are said to have facilitated the purchase of properties, construction of fuel stations, and acquisition of petroleum trucks to conceal the origin of the funds.
“These companies were created and used to conceal and disguise the origin of criminal proceeds,” the OSP disclosed.
In total, the ten accused face 25 counts including Extortion by a Public Officer, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Money Laundering, in contravention of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044).
A director of Kel Logistics, Osei Tutu Adjei, has been declared wanted after failing to respond to an official summons by the OSP.
The accused persons have been arrested and are scheduled to appear before the High Court for their initial pleas to be taken.
The OSP, led by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, reaffirmed its resolve to pursue high-profile corruption cases. “We remain committed to prosecuting corruption-related offences without fear or favour,” the statement concluded.
