Seven Individuals, Three Companies Face GHC280M Extortion Case
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) charged seven individuals and three companies—Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited—with extortion and money laundering, alleging they siphoned GHC280,516,127.19 from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies between 2022 and 2024. The accused, including former NPA CEO Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, and Wendy Newman, were arraigned before the Accra High Court (Criminal Division) on July 17, 2025.
The OSP alleges Abdul-Hamid initiated the scheme, with Amuah, UPPF Coordinator, and Newman, an NPA staff member, executing it by exploiting their roles to extort funds without a legal basis. Amuah allegedly handed GHC24 million to Abdul-Hamid and channeled GHC227.2 million through Newman for disbursement. Directors Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, alongside fugitive Osei Tutu Adjei, used the companies to launder funds through property purchases, fuel stations, and trucks.
The 25 counts include extortion by a public officer (Section 151, Criminal Offences Act, 1960) and money laundering (Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020). The OSP’s probe, launched in November 2024, exposed regulatory intimidation and bribery, costing the state millions. The case tests President Mahama’s Reset Agenda, with the OSP vowing to combat corruption fearlessly, per Modern Ghana. One suspect, Adjei, remains at large, complicating the investigation.
📌 OSP Press Release pic.twitter.com/AZuT4haOQs
— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) July 17, 2025
Earlier claims of a GHC1.3 billion UPPF embezzlement were debunked by The Herald, confirming only GHC110 million was collected, belonging to the Tanker Owners Union, not the state. The OSP clarified the GHC280 million figure, focusing on the extortion scheme. The case has sparked public outrage, with calls for accountability in Ghana’s petroleum sector, a critical economic driver.
The trial, set to continue in August 2025, could reshape NPA governance. The OSP’s actions align with Mahama’s anti-corruption push, but critics question past inaction, citing EOCO’s May 2024 refusal to pursue the case due to an unestablished predicate offence. The outcome may influence public trust in state institutions and Ghana’s fight against systemic corruption.