The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that it has seized and frozen assets valued at more than GH¢100 million and over US$100,000, with additional assets under active tracing, in the alleged grand extortion and money-laundering scheme within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) probe.
A statement issued by the OSP noted that the actions are based on strong documentary, banking, and transaction evidence linking the proceeds to the alleged offences.
The statement was issued after former NPA boss, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, described the charges leveled against him as “useless.”
Dr. Abdul-Hamid is currently standing trial before the Criminal High Court in Accra on several counts of serious corruption and financial crimes.
These include allegations of money laundering, extortion, using public office for personal gain, and conspiracy to commit crime.
“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.”
Below is the full statement
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.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, the first accused, is standing trial before the Criminal High Court in Accra on several counts of serious corruption and financial crimes. These include:
Conspiracy to Commit Extortion by a Public Officer– jointly with two NPA officials, 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.
Two Counts of Extortion by a Public Officer– an unlawful receipt of GH¢24 million and GH¢230,000 from oil transporters and haulage companies under the guise of official duties.
Two Counts of Using Public Office for Profit– accused of abusing his office as NPA Chief Executive for private gain, unlawfully enriching himself with GH¢24 million and GH¢230,000.
Money Laundering– found to be in possession of GH¢15,343,251.29, an amount disproportionate to his known legitimate income and suspected to be proceeds of crime.
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.
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 offences.
This case 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 seriousness of the charges and the scale of the alleged losses make this prosecution a critical test of Ghana’s commitment to fighting corruption.
The next court date is Thursday, 13 November 2025.
