The Office of Special Prosecutor has filed charges against former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and others over an alleged Ghc200 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
The OSP filed against the former CEO and six others and three companies in connection with the allegations.
A statement issued by the OSP disclosed that the case against these seven persons and the three companies is pending before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra.
They are facing multiple charges of extortion and money laundering arising from a sprawling corruption scheme within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The six other accused persons are Jacob Kwamina Anmuah – Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at NPA and Managing Director of three corporate entities – Propnest, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy; Wendy Newman – NPA staff; Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited; Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited; Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited; and Kwaku Abagya-Acquah – Director, Kings Energy Limited.
The three companies are Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
According to the OSP, the charges stem from investigations initiated by the OSP in late 2024 into alleged unlawful conduct involving the diversion of public funds and collusion with oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.
The OSP stated that “Between 2022 and December 2024, the first three accused persons—acting under the colour of their official duties—allegedly orchestrated and operated a criminal extortion scheme through which they unlawfully collected GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The scheme, initiated by Abdul-Hamid and implemented by Anmuah and Newman, lacked any lawful mandate and exploited their positions within the NPA.”
The statement continued “From the proceeds, Amuah is alleged to have handed GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024. An additional GHC227.2 million was channelled through Newman under Amuah’s direction for further disbursement.
Investigations further revealed that the fourth to seventh accused persons, in collaboration with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Limited, created and utilised Propnex Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd. as vehicles for laundering the illicit proceeds. The laundered funds were used to purchase and construct houses, acquire trucks for an oil distribution business, and build fuel stations—all as part of efforts to conceal and disguise the origin of the criminal proceeds.”
The OSP added that all the 7 individuals and three companies have been charged with a total of 25 counts, including:
- Extortion by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
- Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, contrary to 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
Meanwhile, another accused person identified as Osei Tutu Adjei, a Director of the ninth accused company is currently at large.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
