Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has responded to the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) announcement regarding an ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement at the state-run agency.
The OSP, in a statement issued on February 12, 2025, revealed that it was investigating the alleged misappropriation of approximately GHC 1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at the NPA.
According to the OSP, the investigation involves Dr Abdul-Hamid, along with three other individuals: Jacob Amoah, the UPPF Coordinator; Freda Acheampong, an NPA staff member; and Wendy Ashong Newman, another employee of the agency.
In response, Dr Abdul-Hamid took to Facebook to assert that, as of the time of the OSP’s announcement, he had not been formally invited for questioning by any investigative body, nor had he been informed that he was under investigation for the alleged embezzlement.
He added, however, that he was fully prepared to cooperate with authorities and assist in any investigations into the alleged financial misconduct.
The probe centres on suspicions of corruption linked to the diversion of funds from the UPPF, a critical account designed to stabilise petroleum pricing in the country.
The OSP’s inquiry underscores its continued focus on high-profile corruption cases within the public sector.
Dr Abdul-Hamid, a prominent political figure and former spokesperson for President Nana Akufo-Addo, previously served as NPA CEO from 2017 to 2021.
The investigation into the NPA, one of Ghana’s key regulatory bodies in the oil sector, is part of a broader government crackdown on corruption, which has garnered attention both domestically and internationally.
