The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged seven individuals and three companies in what it describes as a sophisticated GHC280 million extortion and money laundering scheme allegedly orchestrated within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
At the centre of the case is former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who is accused of initiating and profiting from the illegal scheme, alongside senior officials and directors of private companies.
According to a statement released by the OSP, the charges are the result of extensive investigations launched in late 2024 into the diversion of petroleum sector funds through collusion between public officials and private business entities.
Accused Persons and Companies
The parties charged include:
- Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former CEO, NPA
- Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator, Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), and Managing Director of Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy
- Wendy Newman – Staff, NPA
- Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited
- Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited
- Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited
- Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Limited
- Propnest Limited
- Kel Logistics Limited
- Kings Energy Limited
One additional suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics Limited, is currently at large and is being pursued by law enforcement authorities.
The Alleged Scheme
According to the OSP:
- Between 2022 and December 2024, Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman allegedly operated an extortion racket disguised under the authority of their official duties at the NPA.
- A total of GHC280,516,127.19 was allegedly siphoned from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies without legal mandate.
- Amuah is said to have delivered GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024.
- A further GHC227.2 million was routed through Newman and disbursed under Amuah’s instruction.
- The remaining accused individuals are believed to have assisted in laundering the funds through the companies—Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy—with proceeds used to purchase trucks, real estate, and fuel stations to mask the source of the funds.
Charges Filed
All accused face 25 counts, including:
- Extortion by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, under Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)
- Money Laundering, under Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044
