OSP to Arraign Former NPA CEO and 9 Others on GHC280 Million Corruption Charges Accused to Appear Before Criminal Division 3 of the High Court on 23 July

OSP to Arraign Former NPA CEO and 9 Others on GHC280 Million Corruption Charges Accused to Appear Before Criminal Division 3 of the High Court on 23 July

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced that ten accused persons, including the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, will be arraigned before Criminal Division 3 of the High Court in Accra on Wednesday, 23 July 2025. The charges relate to a massive GHC280.5 million extortion and money laundering scheme that allegedly took place within the NPA between 2022 and 2024.

In a statement signed by the OSP’s Director of Strategy, Research & Communication, Samuel Appiah Darko, the accused are currently on inquiry bail as investigations continue. They are facing a total of 25 charges, including extortion by a public officer, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The individuals and companies charged are:

1. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former Chief Executive Officer, NPA
2. Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and Managing Director of Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.
3. Wendy Newman – NPA staff
4. Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd.
5. Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd.
6. Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd. & Kings Energy Ltd.
7. Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Ltd.
8. Propnest Limited
9. Kel Logistics Limited
10. Kings Energy Limited

The OSP’s investigation found that the accused persons, acting under the cover of their official roles, allegedly orchestrated a scheme to divert public funds from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The OSP alleges that GHC280,516,127.19 was unlawfully collected through the scheme, with GHC24 million reportedly handed directly to Abdul-Hamid by Amuah, and a further GHC227.2 million channelled through Wendy Newman on Amuah’s instructions.

The statement further reveals that the corporate entities—Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.—were used to launder the proceeds of the scheme. The illicit funds were allegedly used to acquire properties, construct fuel stations, and purchase oil distribution trucks in an effort to conceal the origin of the money.

A director of Kel Logistics, Osei Tutu Adjei, is said to be currently at large.

The accused will be formally charged with:

• Extortion by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
• Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, under Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)
• Money Laundering, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044

The OSP has reaffirmed its commitment to prosecuting corruption-related offences without fear or favour and has called on public institutions and the general public to remain vigilant and report any suspected corruption.