The Criminal Court 4 division of the High Court in Accra has granted bail to former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others, adopting the core bail terms previously set by Criminal Court 3, while introducing variations aimed at tighter supervision and strict compliance.
The court explained that although the previous charge sheet had been withdrawn and replaced with a new, expanded 54-count charge sheet, the accused had already fulfilled substantial obligations under the earlier bail terms. Consequently, the court deemed it “in the interest of justice” to maintain those conditions with modifications.
Revised Bail Conditions
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, and Wendy Newman are now required to report to the Registrar of the Court—not investigators—on the first and last Tuesday of every month. The Registrar will submit monthly compliance returns, with any breach triggering a bench warrant, regardless of whether the court is in session.
Each of the three accused remains on GH¢2 million bail, supported by three sureties, including one public servant earning no less than GH¢5,000 net monthly salary, and another who must deposit documents to landed property. Their passports remain with the court registry.
The remaining accused—including company directors and associated entities—also remain on GH¢2 million bail with three sureties, though the public servant threshold has been reduced to GH¢3,000 net monthly salary. They are required to report to the registry on the same bi-monthly schedule until the case concludes.
Fresh Charges and Pleas
Prior to the bail ruling, the court took pleas from all ten accused persons on the new 54-count charge sheet. The charges include extortion, using public office for profit, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit the substantive offences. All ten pleaded not guilty to every count.
The accused are:
- Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former NPA CEO
- Jacob Kwamina Amuah, UPPF Coordinator
- Wendy Newman, NPA staff member
- Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah (company directors)
- PropNest Ltd., Kel Logistics Ltd., Kings Energy Ltd.
According to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the first three accused allegedly orchestrated an extortion scheme between 2022 and December 2024, unlawfully collecting GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407 from oil marketing companies and bulk oil transporters.
Investigators allege that Dr. Abdul-Hamid initiated the scheme, Amuah executed it, and Newman acted as the main conduit for receiving the funds. Portions of the proceeds were reportedly laundered through the accused companies to acquire land, residential properties, fuel stations, and trucks—moves allegedly designed to conceal the illicit origins of the money.
Next Steps
The prosecution is required to file all necessary disclosures by January 12, 2026, with the Case Management Conference scheduled for January 19, 2026.
