The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has brought charges against seven individuals and three companies implicated in a GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering scheme tied to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Leading the list of accused is Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former NPA CEO, joined by current and former NPA staff and private company directors accused of laundering illicit funds. The OSP’s investigation, initiated in late 2024, revealed a network of corruption involving the siphoning of public funds through partnerships with oil marketing and distribution firms.
The Accused:
- Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, ex-NPA CEO
- Jacob Kwamina Amuah, UPPF Coordinator and MD of Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy
- Wendy Newman, NPA employee
- Albert Ankrah, Kel Logistics Director
- Isaac Mensah, Kel Logistics Director
- Bright Bediako-Mensah, Director at Kel Logistics and Kings Energy
- Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Kings Energy Director
- Propnest Limited
- Kel Logistics Limited
- Kings Energy Limited
Details of the Alleged Plot:
Between 2022 and December 2024, Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman allegedly masterminded an extortion scheme, illegally extracting GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. Operating without legal authority, the trio reportedly leveraged their NPA positions to demand payments. Amuah is accused of transferring GHC24 million to Abdul-Hamid in 2024, while channeling an additional GHC227.2 million through Newman for further distribution. The other accused allegedly collaborated with a fugitive Kel Logistics director to launder the funds through the named companies, investing in real estate, oil transport vehicles, and fuel stations to mask the money’s origins.
Charges Laid:
The ten defendants face 25 counts, including:
- Extortion by a Public Officer (Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Section 151)
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering (Criminal Offences Act, Section 23; Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020, Sections 1(1), 1(2), 4)
- Money Laundering (Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020, Sections 1(1), 1(2), 4)
A Kel Logistics director, Osei Tutu Adjei, remains at large.
Court Proceedings: The accused are set to appear before the Accra High Court’s Criminal Division on a date to be confirmed. The OSP emphasized its resolve to tackle corruption and called on public institutions to stay proactive in reporting misconduct.
