Anti-Corruption Fight: Ghanaian President Mahama Charges Country’s Ex-Petroleum Authority Chairman With Laundering $28m

Ghanaian president John Dramani Mahama has through the country’s special prosecutor charged the former chief executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and six others in connection with the extortion and laundering of over GHC280m ($28m).

The seven individuals and three companies face 25-count charges, including extortion by a public officer and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) said the scheme, which ran between 2022 and December 2024, was orchestrated by Abdul-Hamid, former Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), Jacob Kwamina Amuah, and NPA staffer Wendy Newman.

Authorities alleged that the three exploited their official positions to extort more than GHC280.5 million from petroleum transporters and oil marketing companies.

“The scheme, initiated by Abdul-Hamid and implemented by Amuah and Newman, lacked any lawful mandate and exploited their positions within the NPA,” the OSP said.

Amuah allegedly handed GHC24m ($2.3m) directly to Abdul-Hamid and channelled an additional GHC 227.2m through Newman under his direction, with the funds laundered through Propnest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., and Kings Energy Ltd., used to buy trucks, build fuel stations and construct houses.

Abdul-Hamid’s Denial

Abdul-Hamid, however, denied wrongdoing. “I have never solicited nor received any illegal payments in the performance of my duties.

“I welcome the opportunity to clear myself in court.” He said

Also charged are directors of Kel Logistics and Kings Energy, including Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah. The OSP noted that one other suspect, Osei Tutu Adjei of Kel Logistics, is currently at large.

The move comes as Mahama’s administration pushes what it calls “Operation Recover All Loot” , an aggressive initiative to investigate and prosecute financial crimes allegedly committed under the previous government.

Attorney General and minister for justice Dominic Akuritinga Ayine on Wednesday directed the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to launch a separate full-scale probe into illegal mining operations linked to high-ranking officials of Mahama’s own National Democratic Congress (NDC) party.

Ayine confirmed in a statement that EOCO had invited NDC vice chairman Yakubu Abanga Alhassan and national organiser Joseph Yamin for questioning. He cited “intelligence reports and persistent public concern” over ongoing galamsey (illegal mining) operations that have devastated Ghana’s forests and water bodies.

Yakubu Abanga swiftly responded to the allegations. “I have never engaged in any mining activity, legal or illegal,” he tells The Africa Report. “If I am found guilty, I will not hesitate to resign. I am ready to cooperate fully with EOCO to clear my name.”

Since taking office in January, President Mahama has pledged to recover billions of cedis in misappropriated state funds. Operation Recover All Loot has so far led to the arrest or questioning of at least eight former state officials, with multiple cases pending before Ghana’s financial and economic crimes courts.

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