I am innocent – Mustapha Hamid fights back against GHS280m extortion allegation
Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has denied allegations of extortion levelled against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), insisting he has not been formally charged before any court.
This follows reports by multiple media outlets and a press release from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which alleged that Dr. Hamid and nine others extorted GH¢280 million from oil marketing companies during his tenure at the NPA.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, lawyers for Dr. Hamid said their client “categorically denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme,” adding that as of the time of the release, “he has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction” and they are yet to see any official charge sheet.
The former NPA boss described the allegations as a “moving target,” highlighting inconsistencies in the claims against him. According to his legal team, the OSP initially alleged in February 2025 that Dr. Hamid had embezzled GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF). These accusations later shifted to procurement breaches and mismanagement of the fund, before morphing into the current extortion charge.
Dr. Hamid reportedly responded to the initial claims in a letter dated February 17, 2025, demanding a retraction of what he described as defamatory statements made by the OSP. He was subsequently invited by the Special Prosecutor’s office on February 25, where he was questioned over the alleged infractions.
According to the new allegations, Dr. Hamid is said to have initiated the extortion scheme and personally received GH¢24 million. He has strongly denied any personal benefit from the alleged extortion and emphasized that he conducted his duties with integrity and transparency.
Backing these claims, the statement cited significant financial growth recorded under his leadership. The NPA’s four main accounts reportedly saw massive improvements between 2021 and 2024. The Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) increased from GH¢53 million to over GH¢1.1 billion; the Petroleum Product Marking Scheme (PPMS) account grew from GH¢20 million to GH¢90 million; and the PDM and Operational Accounts also saw substantial gains.
His legal team insists that these records reflect Dr. Hamid’s “sterling leadership” and argue that the internet is filled with testimonies from industry players attesting to his competence.
“Our client has displayed high integrity and competence throughout his entire public life,” the statement said. “He is fully prepared to contest any charges levelled against him and is confident that the truth of his innocence shall prevail.”
The OSP is yet to respond to the latest claims.
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