Hot SourceThe Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and six others in what is being described as one of Ghana’s largest corruption and money laundering scandals to date. The alleged scheme, which spans from 2022 to 2024, involves the unlawful collection of over GHC280 million from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.
In a two-page statement released by the OSP on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, seven individuals and three companies were cited for orchestrating an elaborate extortion and money laundering operation within the NPA. According to the OSP, the accused persons acted under the cover of their official positions to divert public funds and collude with private entities.
Mustapha Hamid, other accused persons and companies
The indiviauals charged include:
- Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former CEO of the NPA
- Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and managing director of Propnest, Kel Logistics Ltd, and Kings Energy Ltd
- Wendy Newman – NPA staff
- Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd
- Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd
- Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Ltd
- Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Ltd
The corporate entities implicated are:
- Propnest Limited
- Kel Logistics Limited
- Kings Energy Limited
Nature of the offence
The OSP revealed that the accused unlawfully extorted GHC280,516,127.19 through a criminal enterprise that lacked any legal mandate. Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman are alleged to have initiated the scheme, taking advantage of their positions at the NPA to demand payments from fuel transporters and distributors. These actions, according to the OSP, were not sanctioned by any lawful NPA directive.
From the extorted amount, Amuah is reported to have handed GHC24 million directly to Mustapha Hamid between January and December 2024. A further GHC227.2 million was allegedly channelled through Newman under Amuah’s directive for undisclosed disbursement.
Money laundering mechanism
Investigations revealed that the accused laundered the illicit funds using the companies—Propnest Ltd, Kel Logistics Ltd, and Kings Energy Ltd. These entities, in collaboration with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Ltd, were reportedly used to purchase and construct residential properties, acquire oil distribution trucks, and build fuel stations. These moves, authorities say, were designed to conceal the origin of the criminal proceeds.
Legal charges and proceedings
All seven individuals and the three companies are facing a total of 25 criminal counts, which include:
- Extortion by a Public Officer (Section 151, Criminal Offences Act, 1960 – Act 29)
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 – Act 1044)
- Money Laundering (Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044)
A director of Kel Logistics Ltd, Osei Tutu Adjei, has also been named in the scandal and is currently at large.
The accused have been apprehended and are scheduled to appear before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra at a date to be determined for their pleas to be taken.
OSP’s assurance
The statement, signed by Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research and Communication at the OSP, reaffirmed the office’s commitment to pursuing corruption-related offences “without fear or favour.”
“The OSP urges all public institutions to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of corruption,” the statement added.
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