Lawyers for Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), have forcefully denied his involvement in a GHS280 million ($21 million) extortion and money laundering scheme, following allegations made public by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

In a statement released Thursday, July 17, Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s legal team said he has not been formally charged or served with any legal documents, despite being named among seven individuals and three companies implicated in what prosecutors allege was a wide-ranging financial scheme within the NPA.

“Our client denies all the allegations against him contained in the said publication and press release. He is ready to contest all the allegations in court and defend his good name,” the statement read.

The controversy dates back to February 2025, when the OSP first accused Dr. Abdul-Hamid of embezzling GHS1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF)—a fund used to stabilize fuel prices across the country. He responded with a formal request for retraction, which the OSP did not issue.

Subsequent investigations reportedly led to a shift in charges, with the original figure of GHS1.3 billion revised downward to GHS280 million. The OSP now alleges that Dr. Abdul-Hamid personally received GHS24 million from funds allegedly extorted from oil marketing firms and petroleum transporters.

His lawyers called the updated charges “inconsistent and shifting,” accusing the OSP of changing its narrative without providing substantive evidence. “Our client categorically denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme, either directly or indirectly,” the statement said. “He further denies receiving any personal benefit from any such alleged extortion.”

Dr. Abdul-Hamid was questioned by the OSP in February in relation to procurement violations and alleged mismanagement of the UPPF. However, his legal team insists the new charges are unfounded and politically motivated.