The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has defended its ongoing criminal prosecution of former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, describing the case as “serious and substantial” after he publicly dismissed it as “useless” in a video.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, who served as head of the NPA until early 2025, is facing multiple corruption and financial crime charges before the Criminal High Court in Accra.
The charges include conspiracy to commit extortion by a public officer, extortion, abuse of office for profit, and money laundering.
Details
According to prosecutors, the former NPA boss and two other officials are accused of plotting to extort over GH¢291 million and US$332,000 from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies between December 2022 and December 2024.
He is also alleged to have unlawfully received GH¢24 million and GH¢230,000 from transport and haulage firms under the guise of official duties, and to have laundered GH¢15.3 million, said to be far beyond his known income.
Frozen assets
The OSP said assets worth more than GH¢100 million and US$100,000 have already been seized and frozen, while further investigations are ongoing to trace additional proceeds.
“This case represents a major step in protecting public funds, ensuring accountability in the petroleum sector, and affirming that no public official is above the law,” the OSP said in a statement.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, a former Minister of Information, has denied any wrongdoing.
The case will resume on Thursday, November 13, 2025.
