Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has vehemently denied allegations of extortion amounting to GHS 280 million, following a press release from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
In a statement issued by his legal representatives today, Dr. Abdul-Hamid asserted that he has not yet been formally charged in any court and has not sighted any charge sheet.
The press release from Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s team refutes all accusations, stating that he is prepared to contest them in a court of law to defend his reputation. The statement highlighted a shifting narrative from the OSP regarding the allegations against him. Initially, in February 2025, the OSP announced an investigation into Dr. Abdul-Hamid for allegedly embezzling GHS1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF). Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s team noted that he had demanded a retraction of this “defamatory publication” at the time, which was never issued.
Subsequently, Dr. Abdul-Hamid was questioned by the OSP on February 25, 2025, concerning alleged mismanagement of the UPPF and procurement breaches. His legal team emphasized that the current accusation has now evolved to “extortion of funds from unnamed victims,” with the alleged amount changing from GHS1.3 billion to GHS280 million.
The statement specifically addressed the claim that Dr. Abdul-Hamid initiated the alleged extortion scheme and directly received GHS24 million. His legal representatives categorically denied his involvement in any such scheme, directly or indirectly, and denied receiving any personal benefit from alleged extortion activities.
A Record of Integrity and Growth
Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s team underscored his nearly four years of service at the NPA, asserting that he served the nation with “utmost integrity and competence.” They pointed to “positive testimonies from industry players” regarding his leadership and cited official financial records, including audited reports, as evidence of “unprecedented financial growth” during his tenure.
The press release provided specific figures detailing the growth of the NPA’s four main accounts—UPPF, PDM, PPMS, and Operational Account—under Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s leadership. When he assumed office in 2021, the collective balance of these accounts was approximately GHS108.2 million. By December 31, 2024, the total balance had reportedly grown exponentially to over GHS1.9 billion.
The statement concluded by reiterating Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s confidence in his innocence and his readiness to contest any charges brought against him, believing that “the truth of his innocence shall prevail.”
