, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has strongly denied allegations linking him to a GHS280 million extortion and money laundering scheme, describing the claims as baseless and inconsistent.){kind=link}
Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has strongly denied allegations linking him to a GHS280 million extortion and money laundering scheme, describing the claims as baseless and inconsistent.
The rebuttal follows a statement by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Thursday, July 17, announcing criminal charges against seven individuals and three corporate entities for allegedly diverting public funds from the petroleum sector between 2022 and 2024.
Among those named in the alleged scandal are Dr. Abdul-Hamid, former Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), Jacob Kwamina Amuah, and NPA official Wendy Newman. According to the OSP, the accused orchestrated an illegal operation to extract money from oil companies and transporters under the guise of regulatory compliance.
The OSP alleges that approximately GHS280.5 million was unlawfully collected and laundered, with GHS24 million allegedly handed directly to Dr. Abdul-Hamid.
However, in a sharply worded press statement released by his legal team, led by lawyer Hanifa Yahaya, Dr. Abdul-Hamid rejected the accusations and stated that he has not been formally charged by any court.
“Our client denies all the allegations and is yet to receive or sight any charge sheet,” the statement said, adding that the OSP had previously claimed a significantly larger figure of GHS1.3 billion in embezzled funds before allegedly revising the accusations down to GHS280 million related to extortion.
The lawyers questioned the integrity and consistency of the investigation, stating: “Our client categorically denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme, either directly or indirectly.” They emphasized that Dr. Abdul-Hamid “received no personal benefit” from the funds in question.
In defense of his track record, the legal team pointed to financial growth under Abdul-Hamid’s leadership at the NPA. They cited audited figures indicating that the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) grew from GHS53 million in 2021 to over GHS1.1 billion by the end of 2024 — an achievement they say is contrary to the claims of financial misconduct.
“Our client is fully prepared to contest any charges levelled against him and is confident that the truth of his innocence shall prevail,” the statement concluded.
Despite the denials, the OSP maintains that ten accused persons — including individuals and representatives of three companies — face 25 criminal charges. These include extortion by a public officer, conspiracy to commit crime, and money laundering. The office also revealed that one company director named in the case is currently at large.
The accused are expected to appear before the High Court in the coming weeks as the case unfolds.