The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged seven (7) individuals and three companies before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on multiple charges of extortion and money laundering.
The OSP said their actions arose from a sprawling corruption scheme within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The accused persons are: Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at NPA and Managing Director of three corporate entities–Propenst, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy.
Others are Wendy Newman – NPA staff, Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited, Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Limited, Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Limited.
The three companies accused of the same offenses included Propenst Limited, Kel Logistics Limited and Kings Energy Limited.
In a statement from the OSP issued on July 17, 2025, the charges stem from investigations initiated by the OSP in late 2024 into “alleged unlawful conduct involving the diversion of public funds and collusion with oil marketing and bulk distribution companies.”
“Between 2022 and December 2024, the first three accused persons—acting under the colour of their official duties—allegedly orchestrated and operated a criminal extortion scheme through which they unlawfully collected GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.
“The scheme, initiated by Abdul-Hamid and implemented by Amuah and Newman, lacked any lawful mandate and exploited their positions within the NPA.
“From the proceeds, Amuah is alleged to have handed GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid between January and December 2024. An additional GHC227.2 million was channelled through Newman under Amuah’s direction for further disbursement,” the statement explained.
The OSP said investigations further revealed that the fourth to seventh accused persons, in collaboration with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Limited, created and utilised Propenst Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd. as vehicles for laundering the illicit proceeds.
“The laundered funds were used to purchase and construct houses, acquire trucks for an oil distribution business, and build fuel stations—all as part of efforts to conceal and disguise the origin of the criminal proceeds.”
All 7 individuals and three companies have been charged with a total of 25 counts, including:
“Extortion by a Public Officer, contrary to Section 151 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
“Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, contrary to Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)
“Money Laundering, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044.”
Meanwhile, one Osei Tutu Adjei, a Director of the ninth accused company, according to the OSP is currently at large.
However, other accused persons have been apprehended and are set to appear on a date to be determined by the court for their pleas to be taken.
The OSP reaffirms its commitment to investigating and prosecuting corruption and corruption-related offences without fear or favour.
