The NPA – UPPF Scandal


Case Reference : CR/0603/2025 Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged seven individuals and three corporate entities before the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra in relation to an alleged GHC280 million extortion and money laundering scheme within the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

The accused are:

  1. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA
     
  2. Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and Managing Director of Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.
     
  3. Wendy Newman – Staff member, NPA
     
  4. Albert Ankrah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd.
     
  5. Isaac Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd.
     
  6. Bright Bediako-Mensah – Director, Kel Logistics Ltd. and Kings Energy Ltd.
     
  7. Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director, Kings Energy Ltd.
     
  8. Propnest Limited
     
  9. Kel Logistics Limited
     
  10. Kings Energy Limited


The case follows investigations launched in late 2024 into the unlawful diversion of public funds and collusion with oil marketing and bulk distribution companies. Between 2022 and December 2024, the first three accused—Abdul-Hamid, Amuah, and Newman—allegedly conspired to extort GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies. The extortion scheme, executed under the guise of official duty, lacked any statutory or regulatory basis.

Investigations revealed that Amuah allegedly transferred GHC24 million directly to Abdul-Hamid in 2024, while GHC227.2 million was passed through Newman under Amuah’s direction. The remaining accused, in coordination with a fugitive director of Kel Logistics Ltd., are alleged to have laundered the illicit proceeds through three companies—Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd.—to acquire real estate, fuel stations, and transport assets in an attempt to conceal the origins of the funds.

A total of 25 charges have been filed, including:

  • Extortion by a Public Officer – Section 151, Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)
     
  • Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering – Section 23 of Act 29 and Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)
     
  • Money Laundering – Sections 1(1), 1(2), and 4 of Act 1044
     
  • One suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei, a director of Kel Logistics Ltd., remains at large.


On 23 July 2025, the Criminal Division of the High Court commenced proceedings in the case, marking the first arraignment of all ten accused persons. Each pleaded not guilty to charges. While the Prosecution did not oppose bail, it requested stringent conditions to prevent the accused from leaving the jurisdiction unlawfully. 

The Court granted bail to all accused, including Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, each in the sum of GHS 2 million with two justified sureties—one of whom must be a public officer—and with a requirement to provide landed property in Accra. All are to report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor every two weeks. Additionally, some are to deposit their passports or submit valid ID cards to the Court Registry.

As at 25 July 2025, only the first accused, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, had met his bail conditions. The remaining six accused person were unable to do so and have since been remanded into custody.

Status

Prosecution

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