By Daniel Bampoe
The High Court in Accra has revised the bail conditions of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine other accused persons, as the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) intensifies its prosecution in the long-running alleged extortion case involving oil marketing companies.
The decision marks the latest procedural development in a case that has attracted significant public and legal scrutiny since it was first brought before the courts in 2025.
Court Grants OSP’s Application
The variation of the bail conditions followed a formal application by the OSP, which argued that the existing reporting arrangement—requiring the accused persons to report periodically to the Registrar of the High Court—was inadequate for effective supervision.
Moving the application, OSP prosecutors contended that directing the accused persons to report to the lead investigator handling the case would enhance monitoring, ensure compliance with bail terms, and facilitate closer oversight as the matter progresses toward trial.
In its ruling, the court accepted the OSP’s arguments and amended the conditions accordingly.
New Bail Reporting Regime
Under the revised conditions, Dr. Abdul-Hamid and the nine other accused persons are now required to report to the lead investigator on the first and third Tuesdays of every month until the commencement of the trial.
The investigator has been ordered to submit monthly returns to the court detailing compliance by the accused.
Once the trial begins, the reporting requirement will be reduced to once a month, specifically on the first Tuesday, to coincide with scheduled court hearings.
In addition, the court directed that a stop list be placed at all entry and exit points in the country to prevent the accused persons from leaving Ghana without prior authorisation from the court.
Case
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who served as NPA Chief Executive from June 2021, was charged alongside nine others following investigations by the OSP into the alleged abuse of office and extortion of oil marketing companies in relation to regulatory and operational decisions at the Authority.
The accused persons were first granted bail in February 2025 after appearing before the OSP for interrogation.
They were later formally arraigned before the High Court and granted bail again on December 9, 2025, under conditions that included periodic reporting to the court registrar.
Since then, the case has undergone several procedural changes, including the filing of amended charge sheets and reassignment between courts, culminating in the current proceedings before the High Court.
Case Management Conference Set
In a related development, the High Court has also fixed multiple dates in February 2026 for a Case Management Conference (CMC) to streamline the trial process.
Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay directed that the conference would take place on February 2, 9, 12, 17, 19, and 23, with sittings beginning at 8:15 a.m. on each day.
For the month of February, the court further directed that the accused persons would report once to the OSP, in line with the adjusted bail reporting framework.
