Accra: The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged seven individuals and three companies before an Accra High Court (Criminal Division) with multiple offences, including extortion and money laundering, as part of a sprawling corruption scheme within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
According to Ghana News Agency, the accused include Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former CEO of the NPA, and Mr. Jacob Kwamina Amuah, the Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at NPA and Managing Director of three corporate entities-Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy. Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member, is also among the accused. Other individuals include Mr. Albert Ankrah, Mr. Isaac Mensah, Mr. Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Mr. Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah.
The companies involved are Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited. The charges stem from investigations initiated by the OSP in late 2024 into alleged unlawful conduct involving the diversion of public funds and collusion with oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.
The OSP’s statement, signed by Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research, and Communication, reveals that between 2022 and December 2024, the first three accused allegedly orchestrated a criminal extortion scheme, unlawfully collecting GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The scheme, initiated by Abdul-Hamid and implemented by Amuah and Newman, exploited their NPA positions without any lawful mandate.
From the proceeds, Amuah allegedly handed GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024. An additional GHC227.2 million was reportedly channeled through Newman under Amuah’s direction for further disbursement.
Investigations further revealed that the fourth to seventh accused persons, in collaboration with a fugitive Director of Kel Logistics Limited, utilized Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited as vehicles for laundering the illicit proceeds. The laundered funds were reportedly used for purchasing and constructing houses, acquiring trucks for an oil distribution business, and building fuel stations to conceal and disguise the criminal proceeds’ origin.
All seven individuals and three companies face a total of 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, contrary to Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), and Money Laundering, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044.
One of the directors, Osei Tutu Adjei, is currently at large. The accused have been apprehended and are set to appear in court on a date to be determined for their pleas. The OSP reaffirmed its commitment to investigating and prosecuting corruption and corruption-related offences without fear or favor, urging all public institutions to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of corruption.