The legal team of Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has rejected corruption allegations levelled against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), insisting that their client has not been formally charged.
In a statement dated July 17, 2025, Hay & Partners At Law clarified that despite media reports of a 25-count indictment, Dr. Abdul-Hamid has not received any official court documents.
“As at the time of issuing this press statement, our client has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction. We are yet to sight any charge sheet,” the statement said.
The legal team described the allegations as unsubstantiated and vowed to contest them rigorously.
The case centres on conflicting narratives between the prosecution and the defence. While the OSP accuses Dr. Abdul-Hamid of conspiring with NPA officials to extort GH¢280.51 million from oil marketing companies between 2022 and 2024, his lawyers say the charges are based on shifting and inconsistent claims.
They noted that the OSP initially alleged in February 2025 that GH¢1.3 billion had been embezzled from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF). These allegations reportedly evolved into accusations of mismanagement and procurement breaches before culminating in the current extortion claims.
To support their defence, Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s team cited audited financial records showing marked improvements during his tenure. They said the UPPF grew from GH¢53.2 million in 2021 to GH¢1.14 billion by December 2024, while the Price Differential Margin account rose from a negative GH¢18.4 million to a surplus of GH¢470.6 million.
“Our client served the nation with utmost integrity and competence,” said lawyer Hanifa Yahaya, highlighting widespread recognition of Abdul-Hamid’s performance in the sector.
The OSP, however, alleges that Dr. Abdul-Hamid directly received GH¢24 million from the supposed extortion scheme, while GH¢227.23 million was channelled through NPA staff member Wendy Newman. The funds were reportedly laundered through three companies—Propnest Ltd, Kel Logistics, and Kings Energy—to acquire assets including real estate, fuel tankers, and petrol stations.
Eight individuals and three corporate entities have also been charged in connection with the case. One of the accused, Osei Tutu Adjei, is reportedly on the run.
The case is shaping up to be one of Ghana’s biggest corruption trials, seen as a key test of the country’s anti-corruption institutions.
Abdul-Hamid’s legal team remains firm in its position.
“Our client categorically denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme… and further denies receiving any personal benefit,” the statement concluded.
Source: Graphic.com.gh
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