The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has refuted the claims made by the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, describing the Special Prosecutor’s case against him as “useless.”
In an official press release by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the OSP stated that the facts of the case make it both serious and substantial such that it cannot be described as a “useless” case.
“Following a video in which the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, dismissed his ongoing criminal case as “useless,” it is important to restate the facts behind his prosecution and why the State considers the case both serious and substantial.”
Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)
The Office of the Special Prosecutor emphasized that the former NPA Chief Executive, Dr. Abdul-Hamid, is the first accused in “a standing trial before the Criminal High Court in Accra on several counts of serious corruption and financial crimes.”
The OSP stated, among others, alleged crimes including conspiracy to commit extortion, abuse of public office for personal gain, money laundering, and unlawful receipt of funds.
With the first charge by the OSP, “Conspiracy to Commit Extortion by a Public Officer,” the OSP stated that it involved the former Chief Executive of the NPA, jointly with two other officials of the NPA, “accused of plotting to extort GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47 from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies between December 2022 and December 2024.”
Another charge, as the OSP stated, has to do with two counts of extortion by a public officer, where the suspects are accused of “an unlawful receipt of GH¢24 million and GH¢230,000 from oil transporters and haulage companies under the guise of official duties.”
The OSP also stated “two counts of using public office for private profit” as one of the charges where Dr. Abdul-Hamid is accused of “abusing his office as NPA Chief Executive for private gain, unlawfully enriching himself with GH¢24 million and GH¢230,000.”
On the count of money laundering, the OSP alleged that Dr. Abdul-Hamid was found to be in possession of GH¢15,343,251.29, an amount the OSP claims is disproportionate to Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s known legitimate income. The OSP further alleged that this money is “suspected to be proceeds of crime.”
The OSP further stated that the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority is accused of playing a key role in many charges brought against him and other officials of the institution.
“In total, Dr. Abdul-Hamid is alleged to have played a leading role in a grand extortion and laundering scheme that caused the State and petroleum sector losses exceeding GH¢291 million and over US$330,000.”
Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)
According to the OSP, its investigations have led to the freezing of valuable assets worth millions of cedis and thousands of dollars, which are alleged to be the proceeds of the alleged crimes.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has already seized and frozen assets valued at more than GH¢100 million and over US$100,000, with additional assets under active tracing. These actions are based on strong documentary, banking, and transaction evidence linking the proceeds to the alleged offenses.”
Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)
The Office of the Special Prosecutor emphasized that the case involving the former Chief Executive of the NPA and other accompanying officials of the institution “represents a major step in protecting public funds, ensuring accountability in the petroleum sector, and affirming that no public official is above the law.”
The OSP added that the gravity of the charges and the vast extent of the alleged financial losses underscore the importance of this prosecution, making it a pivotal moment in evaluating Ghana’s dedication to combating corruption and upholding justice. It serves as a benchmark for transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity in governance.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor therefore emphasized that a case of this magnitude cannot be said to be “useless,” as the former NPA boss sought to describe it.
The OSP further reaffirmed its commitment to the fight against corruption and stated that the next court date for the case is Thursday, 13th November 2025.
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