Lawyers for Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), have strongly denied his involvement in an alleged GHS280 million extortion and money laundering scheme.
The response comes after a press release from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which named Dr. Abdul-Hamid among seven individuals and three companies charged in connection with the scheme, said to have been perpetrated within the NPA.
In a statement issued by his legal team on Thursday, July 17, Dr. Abdul-Hamid firmly refuted the allegations, emphasizing that he has not been formally charged or served with any charge sheet.
“Our client denies all the allegations against him contained in the said publication and press release. He is ready to contest all the allegations in court and defend his good name,” the statement read.
The lawyers recalled that back in February 2025, the OSP had first accused Dr. Abdul-Hamid of embezzling GHS1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF). Following that claim, he issued a letter on February 17, 2025, demanding a retraction—one that the OSP never provided.
Subsequently, Dr. Abdul-Hamid was invited by the OSP for questioning on February 25, 2025, regarding alleged mismanagement of the UPPF and procurement breaches. However, his legal team says the accusations have since shifted significantly, from embezzlement and procurement infractions to the latest claims of extortion and money laundering. The amount involved has also been revised downward from GHS1.3 billion to GHS280 million.
The OSP now alleges that Dr. Abdul-Hamid personally received GHS24 million from the amount purportedly extorted from oil marketing companies and petroleum transporters.
But his lawyers have strongly dismissed the allegation:
“Our client categorically denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme, either directly or indirectly. He further denies receiving any personal benefit from any such alleged extortion”.
The legal team further criticized what they described as a shifting and inconsistent narrative from the OSP and reiterated Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s readiness to clear his name through legal processes.
Hay and PatnersRead Details DrMustapha Hamid’s letter here
