The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Dr Mustapha Abdul Hamid, the former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), says he is ready to contest all allegations levelled against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and clear his good name.

He denied involvement in any extortion scheme, either directly or indirectly, and further denies receiving any personal benefit from any such alleged extortion.

The OSP said in a statement on Thursday that it has filed criminal charges against seven individuals and three companies, including the former CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, over an extortion and money laundering scheme involving over GH¢280 million.

However, Hay and Partners at Law, the legal representative of Dr Abdul Hamid, who was also a former minister of information, said their client has not been charged before any court of competent jurisdiction.

“We are yet to sight any charge sheet,” it said in a statement on Thursday evening.

The former NPA boss has denied all allegations against him that were contained in the OSP press release that has been widely published and broadcast in the media.

In February this year, the OSP disclosed that Dr Abdul Hamid was under investigation for alleged embezzlement of GHS 1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF).

He was then invited and questioned over allegations of mismanagement of the UPPF and procurement breaches.

“We further note that the allegation has now changed from embezzlement from the UPPF, mismanagement of the UPPF, and procurement breaches to the current one, which is extortion of funds from unnamed victims. And the amount involved in the allegations against our client has also changed from GHS1.3 billion to GHS280 million,” the statement highlighted.

“Our client has displayed high integrity and competence throughout his entire public life. And our client is fully prepared to contest any charges levelled against him, and he is confident that the truth of his innocence shall prevail.”