Date For Arraignment of 10 Accused Persons In NPA Extortion Case Announced

Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine other persons accused of extortion and money laundering will be arraigned on July 23.

The 10 accused, including seven individuals and three companies, were arrested but have since been released on OSP inquiry bail.

According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), they will be arraigned at the Criminal Division 3 of the High Court.

A statement by the Office on July 17 identified them as Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Managing Director of the three implicated corporate entities; Wendy Newman, NPA staff; Albert Ankrah, Director, Kel Logistics Limited; and Isaac Mensah, Director, Kel Logistics Limited.

The rest are Bright Bediako-Mensah, the Director of Kel Logistics and Kings Energy Limited; Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, the Director of Kings Energy Limited; Propnest Limited; Kel Logistics Limited; and Kings Energy Limited.

Charges
The 10 have been slapped with 25 counts.

The charges include 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); and Money Laundering, contrary to Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044.

Allegation
The OSP explained that 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.

The scheme resulted in the unlawful collection of GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.

Abdul-Hamid is said to have initiated the scheme, which was further implemented by Amuah and Newman.

In the view of the OSP, the act 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.”

“Investigations further revealed that the fourth to seventh accused persons, in collaboration with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Limited, created and utilised Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd. as vehicles for laundering the illicit proceeds.”

According to the Office, the proceeds from the scheme were used to purchase and construct houses, acquire trucks for an oil distribution business, and build fuel stations.

At Large
One person identified as Osei Tutu Adjei, a Director of the ninth accused company, is currently at large, it said.

The OSP reaffirmed its commitment to investigating and prosecuting corruption and corruption-related offences without fear or favour, and urged all public institutions to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of corruption.