I’m willing to cooperate with OSP’s GH¢1.3bn probe – Mustapha Hamid

The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has publicly declared his willingness to cooperate with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) regarding an ongoing investigation into an alleged embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF).

This comes after the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, announced during a press conference on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, that Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and three other individuals are under investigation for suspected financial mismanagement related to the petroleum fund.

The UPPF, a crucial mechanism in Ghana’s petroleum sector, is designed to ensure uniform fuel pricing across the country by covering transportation costs for oil marketing companies.

Shortly after the announcement, Mustapha Hamid took to social media to acknowledge the probe, affirming that he had not yet received any official summons or invitation from the OSP or any other state investigative body.

However, he pledged his full cooperation should he be required to assist in any inquiries.

 

 

“My attention has been drawn to an announcement by the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, that I am under investigations for some alleged embezzlement of funds at the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) during my tenure as the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority.

“As at this afternoon, I have neither received any invitation by any State investigative body nor have I been under investigation for any such alleged crime. However, I am willing to avail myself to assist in any investigations of the alleged embezzlement of funds.”

According to the Special Prosecutor, the investigation is targeting four individuals, including Jacob Amoah, the UPPF Coordinator, and two NPA staff members, Wendy Ashong Newman and Freda Tandoh.

The allegations suggest that during Mustapha Hamid’s tenure, significant funds from the UPPF may have been misappropriated, leading to possible financial discrepancies within the petroleum sector.