Mustapha Hamid and others granted GH¢2m bail each in NPA case

Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has been granted bail in the amount of GH¢2 million in connection with the ongoing GH¢280 million extortion and money laundering case brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

As part of his bail conditions, Dr. Abdul-Hamid is required to provide two sureties, each earning a minimum net monthly salary of GH¢5,000, with the amounts to be justified. He is also required to report to the OSP every two weeks as investigations and proceedings continue.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid is the first accused in a high-profile case involving ten individuals and corporate entities accused of orchestrating a large-scale corruption scheme within the petroleum sector between 2022 and 2024.

Jacob Kwamena Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and Wendy Newman, an employee of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), have also been granted bail under identical conditions.

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit extortion, extortion by a public officer, use of public office for profit, and money laundering. Furthermore, four other individuals—Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquah—have been granted bail in the amount of GH¢2 million each.

However, they are required to provide three sureties, with at least one backed by landed property, and report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) every two weeks.

The accused individuals are alleged to have collectively benefited from a scheme targeting Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs), with laundered funds allegedly funnelled into luxury properties, vehicles, and fuel stations.

The case, which has received extensive nationwide coverage, has been adjourned to August 26, 2025, when substantive hearings are scheduled to start.