A high-stakes anti-corruption probe by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has unearthed a massive extortion and money laundering scheme allegedly perpetrated by senior officials within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), resulting in charges against seven individuals and three companies.
The accused—led by former NPA CEO Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, along with key operatives from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and several corporate entities—are alleged to have manipulated their positions to siphon over GHC280 million from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies between 2022 and 2024.
This groundbreaking development comes after extensive investigations by the OSP, which traced the illicit flow of funds through a well-orchestrated network involving public officials and private companies allegedly created solely for laundering criminal proceeds.
According to a statement signed by Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research & Communication at the OSP, the scandal involved top officials acting under the guise of official NPA functions to extort huge sums without legal basis.
The Players and the Alleged Scheme
The OSP’s findings allege that Dr. Abdul-Hamid—with the help of Jacob Kwamina Amuah (UPPF Coordinator and Managing Director of three companies), and Wendy Newman (NPA staff)—engineered the illegal collection of funds from private sector players in the oil distribution chain.
Between January and December 2024 alone, Amuah is said to have delivered GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid, while another GHC227.2 million was routed through Newman, purportedly for disbursement under Amuah’s direction.
The companies implicated in laundering the illicit funds include Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited—all of which, according to the OSP, were used as front entities to acquire property, fuel stations, and logistics assets, thereby masking the source of the funds.
More Accused and a Fugitive
Among those charged are directors of the implicated companies:
- Albert Ankrah,
- Isaac Mensah,
- Bright Bediako-Mensah, and
- Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah.
One director, Osei Tutu Adjei, remains at large, with a manhunt reportedly underway.
Legal Weight
All ten accused parties (seven individuals and three companies) face a total of 25 charges, including:
- Extortion by a Public Officer (under Section 151 of Act 29),
- Money Laundering (under Act 1044), and
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering.
OSP Sends Strong Message
Describing the operation as a “criminal extortion scheme” with no legal mandate, the OSP has vowed to pursue the matter to its legal conclusion. The office reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on corruption, urging all public institutions and whistleblowers to support its mission.
The accused have been apprehended and are expected to be arraigned before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra, where their pleas will be taken on a date yet to be set.
This case, which could become one of Ghana’s most significant corruption trials, underscores the increasing assertiveness of the OSP in tackling high-profile financial crime and public sector abuse.
