Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has been granted bail of GHC 2 million following charges of corruption, extortion, and money laundering in a case brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor(OSP).
Under the bail terms, Mustapha Hamid must provide two sureties, each earning a net monthly salary of at least GHC 5,000, with their financial standing subject to verification. He is also required to report to the Special Prosecutor’s office every two weeks as investigations continue.
Mustapha Hamid is the lead defendant in a high-profile case implicating 10 individuals and several corporate entities in an alleged scheme targeting Ghana’s petroleum sector between 2022 and 2024. Prosecutors say the accused leveraged public office for personal gain, directing illicit funds toward luxury assets, including real estate, vehicles, and fuel stations.
Also granted bail under the same conditions are Jacob Kwamena Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and Wendy Newman, an employee of the NPA. All three have pleaded not guilty to charges that include conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion by a public officer, using public office for profit, and money laundering.
Four other individuals, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquah, were also granted GHC 2 million bail each, but must produce three sureties, including at least one backed by landed property. They are also required to report to the OSP fortnightly.
The Special Prosecutor alleges the accused persons extracted payments from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) under the guise of regulatory influence. The case, which has drawn widespread public attention, is scheduled to resume on August 26, 2025, when substantive hearings are expected to begin.
