By Grace Zigah
The High Court (Criminal Division 4) in Accra has sharply criticized the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for what it described as repeated delays and procedural lapses in the ongoing prosecution of former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others standing trial over alleged financial malfeasance connected to the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF).
Presiding Judge, Justice Abena Oppong-Tamah issued the stern reprimand on Tuesday, warning the OSP to “put its house in order” after the prosecution failed to meet earlier disclosure obligations and appeared unprepared to proceed with the case.
The court has now directed the OSP to file all outstanding disclosures by December 22, 2025, with no further excuses to be entertained.
A Growing Judicial Frustration
Tuesday’s sitting marked a turning point in the widely followed case, which has seen multiple adjournments, amended charge sheets, and procedural inconsistencies from the prosecution side.
According to the court, the OSP’s latest lapse has raised concerns about its readiness and commitment to a timely trial, particularly given the public interest surrounding the allegations.
The judge noted that while the court has shown “considerable patience,” further delays would not be tolerated.
“The prosecution must put its house in order. This court will not entertain unnecessary delays,” Justice Oppong-Tamah stressed.
Her rebuke underscored mounting judicial frustration over the OSP’s management of the case, which has already gone through three amended charge sheets and multiple rescheduled hearings.
Bail Confirmed
Before issuing her reprimand, the judge affirmed the GH¢2 million bail terms for Dr. Abdul-Hamid and the nine other accused persons.
These terms — originally issued by Criminal Court 3 — were retained but modified to tighten supervision and ensure compliance.
Under the new arrangement:
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, and Wendy Newman must now report twice monthly to the Court Registrar instead of investigators.
The Registrar must submit monthly compliance reports to the court.
Any breach will trigger an immediate bench warrant, whether the court is in session or not.
The accused persons’ passports remain seized.
Sureties include a public servant with a minimum GH¢5,000 net salary, and one surety must deposit title documents to landed property.
The remaining accused — including directors of PropNest Ltd, Kel Logistics Ltd, and Kings Energy Ltd — also remain on GH¢2 million bail each, with slightly adjusted salary requirements for their sureties.
54 Fresh Charges
The court also took the pleas of the accused on a newly filed 54-count charge sheet, replacing the previously withdrawn charge sheet. All ten accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The charges include: extortion, using public office for profit, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit crimes.
The OSP alleges that between 2022 and December 2024, the first three accused — led by Dr. Abdul-Hamid — orchestrated a scheme to unlawfully collect GH¢291.5 million and US$332,407 from oil marketing companies and transporters under the UPPF.
Investigators claim the funds were laundered through the three companies to purchase properties, land, fuel stations, and trucks. Defense lawyers have consistently denied these claims.
A Case Marked By Controversy And Public Scrutiny
The OSP’s prosecution of the former NPA CEO has been one of the most contentious cases since the office was established.
Earlier this year, the agency faced public criticism after releasing a list of properties allegedly linked to Dr. Abdul-Hamid — a list his lawyers dismissed as misleading and unfounded.
In subsequent clarifications, the OSP later confirmed that none of the properties listed belonged to Dr. Abdul-Hamid, a revelation that strengthened public skepticism and triggered a defamation suit filed by Dr. Hamid against the OSP seeking GH¢20 million in damages.
Civil society organizations have also questioned the OSP’s handling of high-profile cases, arguing that frequent procedural errors risk undermining public confidence in the office.
Next Steps
With the judge’s new directive, the prosecution must submit all evidence, witness lists, and documents by December 22 to allow the case to move into the Case Management Conference phase, scheduled for January 19, 2026.
