The NPA – UPPF Scandal

Case Reference : CR/0030/2026 Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Ors

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has charged seven individuals and three companies in connection with suspected corruption and money laundering offences at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), involving unlawful payments totalling Two Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand, Eighty-Seven Cedis and Nineteen Pesewas (GH¢291,574,087.19) and Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Seven United States Dollars and Forty-Seven Cents (US$332,407.47).

Accused Persons

1. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid – Former Chief Executive Officer of the NPA
    
2. Jacob Kwamina Amuah – Former UPPF Coordinator and MD of Propnest Ltd, Kel Logistics Ltd and Kings Energy Ltd.
    
3. Wendy Newman – Staff member, NPA
    
4. Albert Ankrah – Director/Shareholder of Propnest Limited.
    
5. Isaac Mensah – Director/sole shareholder of Kings Energy Ltd.
    
6. Bright Bediako-Mensah – CEO of Kel Logistics, Propnest Ltd and Kings Energy Ltd.
    
7. Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah – Director of Kings Energy Ltd, Propnest Limited and Kel Logistics Ltd.
    
8. Propnest Limited
    
9. Kel Logistics Limited
    
10. Kings Energy Limited

Charges
A total of fifty-four (54) charges have been filed. The accused persons are charged jointly and severally with the following offences:

• Corruption and corruption-related offences contrary to sections 252 and 254 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as amended;
   
• Extortion contrary to section 151 of Act 29;
   
• Money laundering contrary to section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044); and
   
• Conspiracy to commit a crime contrary to section 23(1) of Act 29.
   

In total, the accused face multiple counts of corruption, extortion, money laundering, and conspiracy.

Facts of the Case
In the last quarter of 2024, the OSP initiated a full investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences at the NPA involving top management officials and other staff in connection with alleged unlawful dealings with oil marketing companies (OMCs) and bulk oil transporters (BOTs).

Investigations revealed that between 2022 and December 2024, the First, Second, and Third Accused Persons, acting under the colour of their office, allegedly established an extortionate scheme through which they unlawfully obtained approximately GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47 from OMCs and BOTs—monies they were not lawfully authorised to collect.

The scheme was reportedly conceived by the First Accused, executed by the Second Accused, and facilitated by the Third Accused, who acted as the principal conduit for receiving and disbursing the proceeds.

Between January and December 2024, the Second Accused allegedly handed over GH¢24,000,000.00 directly to the First Accused as part of the illicit proceeds. Additionally, the First Accused personally received GH¢230,000.00 from an oil haulage company.

Out of the total proceeds, an estimated GH¢227,232,323.58 and US$17,207.47 were channelled through the Third Accused, who disbursed the funds on the instructions of the Second Accused.

Further investigations established that the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Accused Persons, together with Osei Tutu Adjei—a Director of the Ninth Accused Company currently at large—collaborated with the Second and Third Accused Persons to establish and operate the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Accused Companies for the purpose of laundering the proceeds of the unlawful scheme.

Through these companies, the accused persons allegedly transferred funds and acquired movable and immovable property, including lands, houses, trucks, and fuel stations, to conceal the illicit origin of the proceeds and evade the legal consequences of their conduct.