The Office of the Special Prosecutor has filed sweeping criminal charges against Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), along with nine individuals and three corporate entities, in connection with a staggering GHC280 million extortion and money laundering operation. This case, one of the most significant in Ghana’s anti-corruption history, has sent shockwaves across the energy sector and renewed urgent calls for institutional reform and accountabilit
According to findings released by the Special Prosecutor, the illicit scheme ran from 2022 until December 2024 and targeted petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.
The accused allegedly exploited their official capacities to impose unauthorized financial levies on businesses operating under the NPA’s jurisdiction. These levies had no basis in law or regulation, yet were enforced under the guise of compliance with fuel pricing and transport oversight frameworks.
At the heart of the scandal lie the alleged financial transactions between key players. Investigators claim that Jacob Kwamina Amuah, coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, handed over GHC24 million in physical cash directly to Abdul-Hamid. Meanwhile, Wendy Newman, another NPA staff member, acted as an intermediary through whom an additional GHC227.2 million was funneled. These funds, investigators say, were laundered through three corporate entities—Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited—in a deliberate attempt to obscure the origin of the money and integrate it into the formal economy.
The laundering scheme involved high-value asset acquisitions, including commercial trucks, fuel stations, and real estate developments. These investments, cloaked as legitimate enterprise expansions, were strategically designed to provide cover for the rapid inflow of cash and present a façade of normal business operations.
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Of particular concern is the role of corporate actors in legitimizing the illicit gains. Among those indicted is Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics Limited, who is currently evading law enforcement. His disappearance has intensified efforts by Ghanaian authorities to track and apprehend suspects connected to financial crimes of this scale.
The total of 25 charges brought against the accused span serious offenses, including extortion by a public officer, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and substantive money laundering charges. The case has now been slated for hearing before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, where all suspects are expected to stand trial.
The ramifications of this case extend beyond the immediate actors involved. Analysts warn that the revelations have exposed troubling vulnerabilities within Ghana’s energy regulatory framework, particularly in areas of internal audit, compliance oversight, and whistleblower protections. There is growing concern that similar schemes may have been perpetrated undetected within other public institutions.
Civil society organizations have responded vigorously, demanding the establishment of independent monitoring mechanisms within the NPA and other state-owned enterprises. Anti-corruption watchdogs are urging Parliament to revisit laws governing procurement, petroleum pricing, and public-private partnerships to prevent future abuse. There is also a push for stronger asset-tracking protocols and public transparency into beneficial ownership structures of companies operating in regulated sectors.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, led by its recently emboldened legal team, has vowed to pursue the case without bias, invoking its mandate to hold powerful figures accountable regardless of their political affiliations or past achievements. The scandal, analysts argue, could serve as a litmus test for Ghana’s judicial capacity to prosecute white-collar crime and restore confidence in the rule of law.
As preparations for the trial intensify, public scrutiny remains fixed on the accused, the institutions that failed to prevent the misconduct, and the broader implications for governance. This case not only questions the moral and legal obligations of public servants but also challenges Ghana to confront the systemic faults that allow corruption to thrive under the radar.
From Opera News
