In a major revelation, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in Ghana has brought formal charges against the former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, along with six other individuals and three companies, in connection with a large-scale extortion and money laundering operation. This complex corruption scheme, according to court filings, allegedly involved the illegal diversion of public funds and collaboration with petroleum distributors.
Those indicted include high-ranking figures such as Jacob Kwamina Amuah, who coordinated the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and also directed three entities—Propenst, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy. Other accused persons include Wendy Newman, an NPA staffer; Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, and Bright Bediako-Mensah, all of Kel Logistics; and Kwaku Abogaye Acquah of Kings Energy. Investigations trace their alleged misconduct back to 2022, suggesting that their actions were both deliberate and systemic.
The OSP discovered that these individuals, particularly the top three accused, orchestrated the scheme under the guise of their official responsibilities. They reportedly manipulated petroleum transactions and misappropriated substantial public funds, amounting to GHC280,516,127.19. The investigation concluded that Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman sidestepped established procedures and lacked legal justification for their actions, allowing them to exploit loopholes in the NPA’s operations for personal and corporate gain.
This case underscores a deeper institutional vulnerability and highlights how internal authority and unchecked discretion can enable massive financial misconduct. The involvement of multiple directors and companies signals that the corruption was not isolated but rather part of a broader, coordinated effort. As legal proceedings move forward, this high-profile scandal may reshape how public agencies like the NPA are held accountable in Ghana.
