The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has filed a GH¢20 million defamation lawsuit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over statements linking him to the alleged embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF).

The suit, filed at the High Court (General Jurisdiction Division) in Accra, accuses the OSP of making false and damaging claims about Dr Hamid during a media briefing held on Tuesday, February 12, 2025.

According to the Writ of Summons (Suit No. 10139/2016) issued on November 12, 2025, Dr Hamid, is seeking a declaration that the OSP’s statements were defamatory and caused serious harm to his reputation.

The writ, signed and sealed under the authority of Acting Chief Justice P. Baffoe-Bonnie, directs the OSP, to enter an appearance within eight days of being served, or risk judgment being entered in default.

In his Statement of Claim, Dr Hamid contends that the OSP’s public statement falsely suggested his involvement in the alleged embezzlement of public funds at the NPA, an assertion he describes as baseless, malicious and injurious to his integrity and public standing.

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He argues that the OSP’s comments have tarnished his reputation, both locally and internationally, especially given his previous public service record, which includes serving as Minister for Information and later as CEO of the NPA.

The former NPA boss is, therefore, asking the court for:

A declaration that the OSP’s statement was defamatory, an order for the OSP to issue a public retraction and apology and general damages of GH¢20 million for the injury caused to his character and reputation.

In February 2025, the Office of the Special Prosecutor announced that it was investigating alleged financial irregularities involving the Unified Petroleum Price Fund, suggesting that some former NPA officials may have been implicated in the diversion of approximately GH¢1.3 billion.

Dr Hamid has strongly denied any involvement in the alleged embezzlement, describing the OSP’s comments as reckless and defamatory.

AM/SSM

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