OSP Drags Ex-NPA Boss and 9 Others to Court Over GH¢280m Scandal

In a major anti-corruption development, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has pressed criminal charges against ten accused parties—seven individuals and three companies, linked to a massive GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering scandal within the petroleum sector.

The list includes former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who is alleged to have played a central role in an illegal scheme to siphon money from petroleum transporters and oil marketing firms between 2022 and December 2024.

According to the OSP’s statement issued on Thursday, July 17, the accused allegedly leveraged their positions to collect unlawful payments under the pretext of regulatory oversight. “The scheme… lacked any lawful mandate and exploited their positions within the NPA,” the statement noted.

Investigations revealed that Jacob Kwamina Amuah, then Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and NPA staff member Wendy Newman were key collaborators in the operation. Amuah allegedly handed GH¢24 million in cash directly to Abdul-Hamid, while another GH¢227.2 million was channelled through Newman under Amuah’s directive.

The remaining accused include executives from Kel Logistics, Kings Energy, and Propnest Ltd., who are believed to have laundered the proceeds through property acquisitions, fuel station construction, and oil truck purchases. “These companies were created and used to conceal and disguise the origin of criminal proceeds,” the OSP said.

In total, the suspects face 25 charges ranging from Extortion by a Public Officer to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, under the Criminal Offences Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act. One of the directors, Osei Tutu Adjei of Kel Logistics, is reportedly on the run.

All apprehended suspects are expected to appear before the High Court to enter their pleas. The OSP reiterated its unwavering commitment to justice, stating it would “prosecute corruption-related offences without fear or favour.”

Read the OSP’s statement below: