The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dragged former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and six others before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra over an alleged GHC280 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
The accused, including three companies Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited, face a total of 25 charges, ranging from extortion by a public officer to conspiracy and money laundering.
According to the OSP, Abdul-Hamid, along with Jacob Kwamina Amuah (Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund) and NPA staffer Wendy Newman.
Allegedly made an illegal scheme between 2022 and 2024 that extorted over GHC280 million from petroleum transporters and oil marketing firms.
Amuah is said to have paid GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid and routed over GHC227 million through Newman for onward disbursement.
Further investigations implicated Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, directors of the three companies in laundering the stolen funds through the acquisition of property, trucks and fuel stations to hide the origin of the money.
One suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics is currently on the run.
The accused are expected to appear in court soon for their pleas to be taken.
The OSP has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling corruption across public institutions without fear or favour.