The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed criminal charges against seven individuals and three companies, including former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Officer, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, in connection with an alleged GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
The charges, announced in an OSP statement dated July 17, 2025, follow months of investigations into unauthorised financial activities within the petroleum sector. According to the OSP, between 2022 and December 2024, the accused unlawfully extorted payments from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies by exploiting their official positions. A total of GH¢280,516,127.19 was allegedly collected under the pretext of regulatory operations without any legal mandate.
The statement detailed that GH¢24 million was directly handed over to Abdul-Hamid by Jacob Kwamina Amuah, former Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund. An additional GH¢227.2 million was channelled through NPA staff member Wendy Newman, allegedly under Amuah’s direction.
Four other accused persons are said to have laundered the proceeds in collaboration with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Limited, using companies such as Kel Logistics Ltd., Kings Energy Ltd., and Propnest Ltd. to disguise the origin of the funds. The laundered money was reportedly used to construct houses, build fuel stations, and acquire trucks for oil distribution businesses.
The OSP confirmed that all 10 accused parties—seven individuals and three companies—face a total of 25 charges. These include Extortion by a Public Officer, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Money Laundering, under relevant provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044). One of the accused, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics, is currently at large.
“The OSP reaffirms its commitment to investigating and prosecuting corruption and corruption-related offences without fear or favour, and urges all public institutions to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of corruption,” the statement concluded.
OSP charges former NPA CEO, others over GH¢280M extortion and money laundering scandal
