By Issah Olegor
Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has formally filed a GH¢20 million defamation suit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), claiming that statements made by the anti-graft body have seriously damaged his reputation and caused personal and professional losses.
The writ, filed at the High Court (General Jurisdiction Division) in Accra on November 10, 2025, seeks a declaration that a public statement issued by the OSP during a February 12, 2025 media briefing was false, malicious, and defamatory.
Dr. Hamid, represented by lawyers from Applade Chambers, is demanding a retraction of the statement, a public apology, and a perpetual injunction restraining the OSP and its agents from issuing further defamatory remarks about him.
Background
The controversy stems from allegations made by the OSP concerning the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF), from which the agency claimed over GH¢1.3 billion had allegedly been embezzled.
During the February briefing, the OSP named Dr. Hamid and three others as individuals under investigation in connection with the alleged mismanagement of the fund.
At the time, Dr. Hamid contended that he had never been informed of any investigation before the briefing and had no involvement in any embezzlement.
He argued that the public naming and linking of his name to such serious allegations constituted a malicious and unjustified attack on his reputation as a former NPA CEO, academic, and public servant.
The case has since been at the center of national debate, with critics questioning the OSP’s approach of publicly naming individuals before due process is followed.
Critics have argued that such actions could undermine the presumption of innocence and compromise the credibility of the anti-corruption process in Ghana.
Alleged Asset Links and Legal Disputes
Following the February media briefing, the OSP published a list of assets allegedly linked to Dr. Hamid in relation to the NPA case. These included:
Sino trucks and fuel tankers (with registration numbers provided), Mercedes-Benz GLE 450, Underdeveloped land parcels, Studio apartments in the Atlas and Roman Ridge areas.
The OSP stated that these assets were part of seizures valued at over GH¢100 million and US$100,000, with additional assets under tracing.
However, Dr. Hamid’s lawyers insisted that none of these properties belonged to their client, either directly or indirectly.
They emphasized that the OSP had failed to establish any ownership or link between Dr. Hamid and the published assets, a position later seemingly corroborated by statements from the OSP clarifying that the properties were not connected to him.
He had reportedly declared two properties to the OSP as part of transparency measures: one in Tamale and another in Accra, which were not included in the list of alleged seized assets.
Impact on Dr. Hamid
The lawsuit details the personal and professional consequences Dr. Hamid claims to have suffered, including:
Emotional distress and embarrassment
Loss of consultancy and academic opportunities abroad
Damage to his reputation as a respected public figure, politician, and scholar
The legal team argues that the OSP’s statements were made without factual verification and prior notification, constituting malicious defamation.
Previous Tensions
This defamation claim is part of a broader and ongoing tension between Dr. Hamid and the OSP, headed by Kissi Agyebeng, which has seen previous public confrontations, including a viral video where Dr. Hamid allegedly described the OSP’s case against him as “useless.”
Following the video, the OSP released statements citing investigations and asset seizures, prompting immediate responses from Dr. Hamid’s lawyers denying any connection to the listed assets.
The case has also raised concerns regarding the conduct of the OSP and its officials, including the role of Sammy Darko, Director of Communications and Strategy, in public commentary on ongoing investigations.
Critics have described the OSP’s approach as overly aggressive and damaging to due process, with some alleging that its actions have undermined public confidence in Ghana’s anti-corruption processes.
Legal Relief Sought
Dr. Hamid’s writ requests the court to:
1. Declare the OSP’s statement of February 12, 2025, as defamatory
2. Award GH¢20 million in general damages
3. Issue an unqualified apology and retraction of all defamatory statements
4. Restrict the OSP and its agents from further defamatory remarks regarding Dr. Hamid
