OSP arraigns Mustapha Hamid, nine others; bail granted to accused persons

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) today, Tuesday, 9 December 2025, arraigned former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others before the High Court.

All accused persons appeared before Criminal Court 4, where prosecutors read a consolidated 54-count charge sheet covering extortion, using public office for profit, money laundering and conspiracy. All accused persons pleaded not guilty.

The court, after adopting the core bail terms earlier set by Criminal Court 3, granted bail to the accused persons but asked them to report to the Registrar on the first and last Tuesday of every month.

The court also directed the prosecution to file all mandatory disclosures by 12 January 2026. A case management conference has been set for 19 January 2026.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor amended the charges against the ten accused persons from 24 to 54 counts, citing new evidence. The amended charge sheet details 54 criminal counts against officials of the NPA and several associated companies for alleged large-scale extortion, abuse of public office and money laundering amounting to GH₵297,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47.

In court on Thursday, 13 November, lawyers from the Office of the Special Prosecutor told the court that they were ready to withdraw the old charge sheet and replace it with the amended one in order for the pleas of the accused persons to be taken. However, they had been informed that the case had been assigned to a different court, Criminal Court 4.

The Principal Prosecutor then sought permission from the court for an adjournment in order for the withdrawal to be done on the same day the case was to be heard at the newly assigned court. The High Court, presided over by Justice Bertha Aniagyei, granted the prayer after lawyers for the accused persons did not oppose the application.

The Alleged GH¢291 Million Scheme

Investigations show that the first three accused — believed to be key officials at the NPA — operated an extortion scheme between 2022 and 2024, collecting over GH¢291 million and US$332,000 from oil marketing companies and transporters.

The OSP says portions of the proceeds were laundered through three companies to acquire lands, residences, fuel stations and trucks in attempts to disguise the criminal origin of the funds.

This figure, when calculated at recent exchange rates, represents an alleged criminal enterprise worth well over US$24.5 million, underscoring the severity of the alleged financial crime within a critical national sector.

Money Laundering and Asset Acquisition

The OSP’s prosecution documents detail how the proceeds from the extortion scheme were allegedly laundered in a deliberate attempt to conceal their criminal origins. Portions of the colossal sums collected were allegedly washed through three separate companies established by the accused. These laundered funds were then purportedly used to acquire major assets, including:

Lands and residential properties.

Fuel stations.

Haulage trucks for petroleum transportation.

 

Source: 3news