OSP Charges Ex-NPA Boss and 9 Others Over Petroleum Sector Extortion Scheme

Former NPA CEO, Staff, and Companies Charged by Special Prosecutor Over Oil Sector Extortion Scheme

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed criminal charges against seven individuals and three companies, including former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, over a wide-reaching extortion scheme in Ghana's petroleum sector.

According to official documents filed by the OSP, the accused persons are alleged to have engaged in a criminal conspiracy between 2022 and December 2024, orchestrated to extract illegal payments from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies under the guise of official regulatory transactions.

Details of the Alleged Scheme

At the center of the scandal are three key figures:

• Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former NPA CEO,
  
  

• Jacob Kwamina Amuah, then Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF),
  
  

• and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member.
  
  

The OSP claims these individuals devised and executed a coordinated extortion scheme, demanding payments from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies in exchange for favorable regulatory treatment and uninterrupted business operations.

The criminal enterprise reportedly exploited the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund and NPA’s regulatory channels, misusing institutional power for personal and group gain. Companies that refused to comply allegedly faced delays, punitive actions, or obstruction of business processes.

Charges and Legal Action

The charges filed include:

• Corruption and corruption-related offenses,
  
  

• Bribery of public officers,
  
  

• Abuse of office,
  
  

• and Participation in organized criminal activity.
  
  

The seven individuals and three companies are expected to appear before the courts in the coming weeks. The names of the companies and the other four individuals have not been officially disclosed yet, pending further investigations and court processes.

OSP Statement

In a statement released Wednesday, the Office of the Special Prosecutor emphasized its commitment to tackling entrenched corruption within the energy sector:

“This is a major step in dismantling sophisticated corruption networks that have plagued Ghana’s petroleum regulatory systems. No one is above the law, and public office should never be used for private gain,” the OSP declared.

Public and Political Reaction

The development has sent shockwaves across Ghana’s energy and political sectors, especially given Mustapha Abdul-Hamid’s prominent public profile and previous public service record. Civil society organizations and anti-corruption advocates have welcomed the charges, calling for swift, transparent judicial proceedings.

Background

The Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) is a mechanism designed to ensure uniformity in petroleum product prices across the country by compensating transporters. However, it has been flagged multiple times for lack of transparency and alleged misuse of funds.

This latest move by the OSP is part of its renewed anti-corruption drive targeting high-profile officials and institutions, particularly in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and public procurement.

Conclusion

As the legal battle begins, this high-profile case could become a landmark in Ghana's ongoing fight against corruption, testing the strength and independence of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the justice system at large. All accused individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source:

myjoyonline.com