Former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) CEO, Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, has filed a GH¢20 million defamation suit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), challenging allegations linking him to the alleged embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF).
The suit, filed at the High Court (General Jurisdiction Division) in Accra on November 10, 2025, seeks a declaration that a public statement by the OSP on February 12, 2025, was defamatory and caused serious damage to Dr. Hamid’s reputation.
Through his lawyers at Applade Chambers, Dr. Hamid is demanding GH¢20 million in damages, a public apology, a retraction of the OSP statement, and a perpetual injunction preventing further defamatory remarks.
According to the writ, the OSP had announced during the February briefing that it was investigating alleged corruption and mismanagement of GH¢1.3 billion from the UPPF, naming Dr. Hamid as one of four individuals under probe.
Dr. Hamid contends that he was never notified of any investigation prior to the statement and had no involvement in any embezzlement. He described the claims as false, malicious, and unjustified, noting that subsequent developments confirmed no such embezzlement occurred.
The plaintiff said the OSP’s statement caused him embarrassment, emotional distress, and the loss of professional opportunities, including consultancy and lecturing positions abroad. He argued that the statement gravely tarnished his reputation as an academic, politician, and respected public figure.
Dr. Hamid’s lawyers confirmed that they wrote to the OSP on February 17, 2025, demanding a retraction of the allegedly defamatory remarks. Instead of issuing an apology, the OSP responded on February 19, 2025, directing Dr. Hamid to appear before it for questioning regarding the supposed UPPF mismanagement.
The case now raises important questions about accountability, public statements, and the balance between official investigations and the protection of individual reputations in Ghana.
