By: Ashiadey Dotse
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged seven people and three companies for their roles in a massive extortion and money laundering case involving over GHC280 million at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Those charged include the former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and two other officials of the Authority — Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), and Wendy Newman, an NPA staff member. Amuah is also listed as the Managing Director of three companies involved in the case: Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
According to the OSP, the three officials allegedly used their positions between 2022 and December 2024 to run an illegal scheme. They are said to have extorted GHC280.5 million from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The money was collected without any legal backing.
The investigations revealed that Amuah gave GHC24 million in cash directly to Abdul-Hamid in 2024. Another GHC227 million was allegedly passed through Newman for further distribution, under Amuah’s instructions.
Four other individuals — Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah — are also accused of helping to launder the illegal money through the three companies mentioned. The laundered money was used to buy properties, build fuel stations, and purchase trucks for an oil distribution business, all in an attempt to hide the source of the funds.
The OSP has filed a total of 25 charges against the individuals and companies, including: Extortion by a public officer, Conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Money laundering.
Another person, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics, is on the run. All the accused have been arrested and will appear in court soon to enter their pleas.
Below is the full statement by the OSP
