The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed criminal charges against seven individuals and three companies, including former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, over an alleged extortion and money laundering scheme exceeding GH¢280 million.
According to a statement released by the OSP on Thursday, July 17, the charges follow extensive investigations into financial irregularities within the petroleum sector dating back to 2022.
The OSP alleges that Dr. Abdul-Hamid, along with Jacob Kwamina Amuah, then Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member, colluded to extort illegal payments from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies under the false pretense of regulatory operations.
The statement revealed that the trio operated without lawful authority and used their positions at the NPA to collect a total of GH¢280,516,127.19. Of this amount, Amuah is said to have personally handed over GH¢24 million to Dr. Abdul-Hamid, while GH¢227.2 million was transferred through Newman at Amuah’s directive.
The remaining accused are directors of three companies—Kel Logistics, Kings Energy, and Propnest Ltd.—which were allegedly used to launder the illicit funds through investments in fuel stations, real estate, and oil transportation assets.
“These companies were deliberately set up to conceal and disguise the origin of the unlawful proceeds,” the OSP stated.
The ten accused—comprising seven individuals and three corporate entities—face 25 counts, including Extortion by a Public Officer, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Money Laundering, under the Criminal Offences Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
One of the accused, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics, is currently at large.
The OSP confirmed that the other suspects have been arrested and are scheduled to appear before the High Court to enter their pleas. The office reiterated its commitment to pursuing corruption cases “without fear or favour.”
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