Legal tensions are mounting as former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, prepares to face the High Court over serious corruption allegations brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
However, even before the July 23, 2025 court date, a fierce legal rebuttal is already underway, with his lawyers describing the case as inconsistent and lacking merit.
The OSP, in a statement on its official Facebook page on Thursday, July 17, confirmed that Dr. Abdul-Hamid and six other individuals are expected to appear before Criminal Division 3 of the High Court. The allegations centre on an alleged extortion and money laundering scheme involving GHS280.5 million, which the OSP claims occurred between 2022 and December 2024.
Of that amount, GHS24 million is alleged to have been directly paid to Dr. Abdul-Hamid, while the rest was purportedly funneled through intermediaries and laundered via three companies.
But in a swift and firm response, the former CEO’s legal team has challenged the very basis of the charges, asserting that no formal charges or court summons had been received as of July 17. They also took issue with what they describe as the OSP’s “shifting narrative” over time.
“In February this year, the OSP alleged the misappropriation of GHS1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and procurement infractions. Today, they speak of GHS280 million and an extortion ring,” the legal team stated, calling the accusations a “moving target” that casts doubt on the credibility of the prosecution.
The lawyers insist that their client has never been involved in any extortion or illicit financial dealings and emphasized his track record of public service and institutional growth.
“As CEO of the NPA, Dr. Abdul-Hamid oversaw a dramatic growth in the UPPF—from GHS53 million in 2021 to over GHS1.1 billion by the end of 2024. That kind of fiscal performance is not consistent with corruption; it’s evidence of leadership and transparency,” the statement added.
The six other individuals implicated—Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bernako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquah—are currently on inquiry bail, awaiting the commencement of legal proceedings.
The legal showdown promises to be a defining moment for both the OSP and the former petroleum regulator, with national interest sharply focused on how the court evaluates the strength of the evidence versus the claims of political targeting and procedural irregularities.
While the OSP has yet to publicly respond to the rebuttals, the case underscores growing tensions between Ghana’s anti-corruption watchdog and high-profile public officials, raising fresh questions about due process, prosecutorial transparency, and the balance between fighting graft and protecting reputations.
As the July 23 hearing approaches, legal observers and the public alike will be watching closely to see whether the case moves forward or crumbles under the weight of procedural and evidentiary challenges.
