Crime & Punishment of Saturday, 29 August 2026

Source: GNA

Court adjourns OSP extortion case against Abdul-Hamid, six others

‎The accused persons in the case have all denied the charges ‎The accused persons in the case have all denied the charges

The Accra High Court has adjourned to September 2, 2026, the extortion case involving Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and six others.

‎The adjournment will enable counsel for the second accused, Jacob K. Amuah, to respond to an affidavit in opposition filed by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

‎Kissi Adjebeng, Special Prosecutor, told the Court that it had been unable to serve Amuah’s lawyers because their offices were locked and the substantive lawyer was out of the jurisdiction.

‎He therefore prayed the Court to permit service on counsel holding brief for Mr Amuah’s lawyers.

‎The Court granted the request, and counsel holding brief was served with the affidavit in opposition in open court.

‎Amuah’s lawyer had filed an application seeking an order to strike out the charge sheet against him.

‎The application is being opposed by the OSP, which has filed an affidavit in opposition and a supplementary affidavit.

‎Dr Abdul-Hamid, a former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the other accused persons are facing charges of allegedly conspiring to extort GH¢291,574 and US$323,407 from Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) between 2022 and 2024.

‎The other accused persons are Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Coordinator of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), Wendy Newman; Albert Ankrah, Director of Kel Logistics, Isaac Mensah, Director of Kel Logistics; Bright Bediako Mensah; and Kwaeku Aboagye Acquah.

‎The accused persons have denied the charges and are on bail.