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Crime and Investigation

Former NPA Boss, 9 Others Charged With Allegedly Extorting Over GH¢291 Million From Petroleum Companies

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The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has been dragged before the Criminal High Court in Accra along with nine other individuals and companies. They are accused of conspiring to extort more than GH¢291 million from players within Ghana’s petroleum sector.

According to a charge sheet filed by state prosecutors at the Criminal High Court (Accra), the group — which includes senior NPA officials and three private companies — allegedly worked together to unlawfully demand huge sums of money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies between December 2022 and December 2024.

Who is Involved

The accused individuals are:

  • Mustapha Abdul-Hamid (54) – Former NPA CEO

  • Jacob Kwamina Amuah (57) – Former Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF)

  • Wendy Newman (40) – NPA Audit Department staff

  • Albert Ankrah

  • Isaac Mensah

  • Bright Bediako-Mensah

  • Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah

The companies cited in the case are:

  • PropNest Limited

  • KEL Logistics Limited

  • Kings Energy Limited

Details of the Allegations

Prosecutors claim that the accused persons “agreed to act together with a common purpose” to demand and receive money from petroleum companies, even though they had no lawful authority to do so.

The total amount allegedly extorted includes:

  • GH¢291,574,087.19

  • US$332,407.47

Dr. Abdul-Hamid, who previously served as a minister and is known within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), faces additional personal charges.

Charges Against Dr. Abdul-Hamid

  • Count Two: He is alleged to have personally received GH¢24 million for his own benefit between January and December 2024. The money was reportedly collected through the then-UPPF Coordinator, Jacob Kwamina Amuah.

  • Count Three: Prosecutors allege that between July 2022 and March 2023, during his tenure as both NPA CEO and Chairperson of the UPPF Management Committee, he again engaged in acts of extortion.

The case is expected to be heard in the coming days as the court takes up the charges.

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Crime and Investigation

Volta Regional Police Destroy Six Hundred Sacks of Narcotics in Ho

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The Volta Regional Police Command has destroyed six hundred sacks of narcotic drugs, specifically Indian hemp, in Ho after receiving a court order to dispose of the long standing exhibits.

The exercise took place on Monday, November 17, 2025 at about 14:30. The sacks contained fertilizer bags filled with dried cannabis. These items were seized by police in 2022 during the case of the Republic versus Yao Kwadow of Wallako and two others. After the trial, the court instructed that the drugs be destroyed.

According to the Command, the exhibits weighed forty seven thousand five hundred and thirty kilograms, with an estimated street value of about 4.2 billion Ghana cedis.

The Ho Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Felix Datsomor, granted the order that allowed the destruction. The process was supervised by key officials including Moses Dzantti, Circuit Court Registrar; Mrs Joseph Oposumah, State Attorney; Mr John Pekyi from the Narcotics Control Commission; and Mr Emmanuel Mensah Gboriby of the Environmental Protection Authority.

The burning, which was carried out under strict police and national security supervision, began around 22:30 at Klefe dumping site in Ho.

The Volta Regional Police Command expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their continued support in the fight against drug related crimes.

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Crime and Investigation

Ofankor man arrested after viral video shows him assaulting wife

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Ofankor man arrested after viral video shows him assaulting wife

 

Police have picked up a man seen in a viral Facebook video assaulting a woman believed to be his wife at their home in Ofankor, Ga East Municipality.

 

The suspect, John Odartey Lamptey, was arrested on Monday, November 17, 2025, at the family residence. This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service.

 

During the operation, two of his siblings, Grace Kushie Lamptey and Louis Odartey Lamptey, were also taken into custody. They had reportedly tried to attack a female tenant they suspected of filming and sharing the video. Police intervened and safely removed the tenant from the house.

 

According to the statement, officers are still searching for the wife, who fled before police arrived, to ensure her safety.

 

The Police Service stressed that it remains committed to safeguarding victims of domestic abuse and ensuring that offenders are held accountable under the law.

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Crime and Investigation

EOCO Breaks Up Cybercrime and Trafficking Ring in Mataheko-Afienya, Rescues Seven Nigerians

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The Economic and Organised Crime Office has broken up a major cyber fraud and human trafficking operation in the Mataheko-Afienya area, leading to the rescue of seven Nigerian nationals who were reportedly trafficked into the country and forced into online fraud.

 

The raid, carried out on Friday, November 14, 2025, was part of an operation known as Operation LIFELINE. Ten people were arrested in total, including three suspects believed to be running the scheme and seven victims aged between 17 and 30. All of them are Nigerian nationals.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, November 17, EOCO explained that the victims were enticed to Ghana with promises of genuine job opportunities. When they arrived, they were instead subjected to harsh conditions and forced to take part in cyber fraud schemes and other illegal online activities. Investigators say the setup shows how closely human trafficking and cybercrime can be linked.

 

The rescued individuals are now receiving care and support as officials work to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s network.

 

EOCO used the announcement to remind the public to stay alert and report any suspicious cybercrime or trafficking activities through their hotlines. The office also urged landlords and property owners to properly screen tenants, particularly foreign nationals, so they do not unknowingly rent out spaces to criminal groups.

 

The agency stressed that it remains committed to tracking down and prosecuting offenders, warning anyone involved in such acts to stop immediately.

 

The success of Operation LIFELINE signals the determination of Ghana’s security agencies to confront cross-border crime and protect vulnerable people from exploitation.

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