The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is set to file criminal charges against Mustapha Abdul‑Hamid, the former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), along with nine other high-ranking NPA officials, over an alleged corrupt scheme which extorted over GH¢280 million from oil marketing companies between 2022 and 2024.
Investigators say the scheme, allegedly run under the authority of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), involved threats, bribery, coercion, and regulatory pressure to extort funds from oil marketing companies.
As of May 30, 2025, financial tracking revealed that GH¢280,516,127.19 had been diverted. The funds were allegedly used to finance lavish lifestyles, buying apartments, fuel-haulage trucks, and establishing rival oil marketing firms overseen by the same regulatory body.
The accused are expected to be formally charged in court by June 2025. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has committed to publishing a full asset trace, detailing beneficiaries, amounts received, and recovered properties.
Individuals named in preliminary communications include Jacob Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF), along with NPA officials Freda Tandoh and Wendy Ashong Newman.
Mustapha Abdul‑Hamid has publicly affirmed his willingness to cooperate fully with the investigation. In early February, he stated he had not been formally summoned but expressed his readiness to assist if requested by authorities.
The case exposes systemic corruption within Ghana’s petroleum sector, revealing how regulatory authority was abused for personal gain.
It raises serious concerns about public trust in the National Petroleum Authority and broader government oversight.
Additionally, it forms part of national efforts to recover misappropriated assets and strengthen accountability in public institutions.
Following the expected court charges, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) will provide a briefing outlining the roles and assets associated with each accused individual.
Attention will also be on the court proceedings, including formal charges, pleas, bail hearings, and the timeline for trial.
A key issue will be whether the recovered assets—such as funds or properties—are successfully repatriated to the state.
There is also the potential for the investigation to widen, possibly implicating other regulatory agencies or former administrations.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
