Court refuses to strike out charges in NPA-UPPF corruption case

The High Court has cleared the way for the trial of former National Petroleum Authority Chief Executive Officer, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and others to continue in the NPA-Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund corruption case.

The accused persons had asked the court to strike out the charges against them.

However, the court dismissed the application, holding that it was without merit.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor announced the ruling in a Facebook post on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

The case involves Dr Abdul-Hamid; former UPPF Coordinator, Jacob Kwamina Amuah; NPA staff member Wendy Newman; Bright Bediako-Mensah; Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah; and three companies, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited and Kings Energy Limited.

They are facing 54 charges brought by the Republic.

The charges include corruption and corruption-related offences, extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to commit a crime.

According to the prosecution, about GH¢291.57 million and US$332,407 were allegedly obtained unlawfully between 2022 and December 2024.

The Republic alleges that the funds were obtained through a scheme involving officials of the NPA.

The prosecution further claims that portions of the money were channelled through companies linked to some of the accused persons.

The OSP says the funds were allegedly used in transactions involving land, buildings, trucks, fuel stations and other commercial interests.

Following the dismissal of the application, the prosecution is now expected to proceed with the substantive trial.

The allegations will be tested through evidence before the court.

The ruling does not amount to a conviction or a finding of guilt against any of the accused persons.

They remain presumed innocent unless and until the court determines otherwise.