Photo: John Mahama, President of Ghana
By Deborah Nnamdi
Ghana’s anti-corruption agency announced Thursday that it has filed charges against a former head of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and six others over a $28 million corruption and money laundering scheme.
The charges mark a significant development in President John Mahama’s anti-graft drive, launched in early 2025 to recover stolen state funds and restore public accountability.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) said it has brought 25 charges against Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former NPA chief, along with six individuals and three companies. The charges include extortion by a public officer, money laundering, and conspiracy.
According to the OSP, the scheme — described as “sprawling” and initiated by Abdul-Hamid — ran from 2022 to December 2024. He is accused of receiving $2.3 million personally as part of the broader illicit operation.
“I have never taken a bribe or been involved in any corrupt scheme during my tenure at the NPA,” Abdul-Hamid told AFP by phone. “I will fully cooperate with authorities to clear my name in court.”
The Special Prosecutor identified Jacob Kwamina Amuah, former coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, and NPA staffer Wendy Newman as key figures in the alleged operation. They are accused of unlawfully collecting money from oil marketing firms and transporters, then laundering the proceeds through shell companies.
Three firms — Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd. — allegedly served as fronts to buy property, construct fuel stations, and acquire trucks for an oil distribution business. A director of Kel Logistics is currently on the run.
President Mahama, who returned to office in January, has pledged to clean up public institutions and reclaim embezzled funds.
“Mahama’s credibility depends on how even-handed these prosecutions are,” said political analyst Joshua Jebuntie Zaato of the University of Ghana. “Ghanaians are watching to see if this is true reform or a political purge.”
Since the campaign began, several individuals have been arrested or charged, and dozens more are under investigation.
