Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has missed out on a position as a National Vice-Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), finishing fourth in the party’s internal election while continuing to face prosecution in a separate case involving alleged unlawful collections of more than GH¢291 million.
Abdul-Hamid polled 2,956 votes, falling 31 votes short of Nana Akomea, who secured the third and final vice-chairmanship position with 2,987 votes, according to results reported by MyJoyOnline on October 4, 2026.
The election outcome comes as the criminal case involving Abdul-Hamid and other accused persons remains before the courts.
The GH¢291 million prosecution
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has charged Abdul-Hamid and other individuals and companies in connection with alleged unlawful collections from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies between 2022 and 2024.
According to the OSP, the alleged collections total GH¢291,574,087.19 and US$332,407.47. The charges were expanded from 25 to 54 counts in October 2025 following the discovery of additional evidence.
The charges include alleged extortion, corruption-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering. The prosecution alleges that funds were collected without lawful authority and that some of the proceeds were channelled through business entities and used to acquire assets.
These remain allegations to be determined through the judicial process. The accused persons are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
Assets reportedly seized or frozen
The OSP has reported seizure and freezing measures involving assets valued at more than GH¢100 million and US$100,000. The reported assets include fuel stations, petroleum tanker trucks, parcels of land, residential properties, apartments and cash.
The property inventory cited in the material provided for this report lists the following:
Fuel stations and transport assets
– Four fuel stations at Opeikuma, Dansoman, Abeka Lapaz and Millennium City.
– Twenty-three petroleum tanker trucks.
- Land and residential properties
- Land at Tamale, valued at GH¢9.93 million.
- Land at Adenta, with no valuation specified.
- Land at Haatso, valued at GH¢2.737 million.
- Land at Danyame, valued at GH¢4.766 million.
- A residence at East Legon, valued at GH¢12.713 million.
- A building at Adjiringanor, valued at GH¢10 million.
- A six-unit complex at Agbogba, valued at GH¢10 million.
Apartments and other developments
- Three apartments at The Bantree.
- Two apartments at The Signature.
- A studio apartment at Beyond.
- Three unfinished apartments at The Monarch.
- A one-bedroom apartment at The Lennox.
- Three apartments at The Address.
- A two-bedroom apartment at The Loxwood.
- Four unfinished apartments at The Atlas.
- Cash reportedly totalling GH¢951,995.56.
The listed properties and their stated valuations should be checked against the relevant OSP inventory or court exhibits before publication. The inventory alone does not establish the legal ownership of each asset, whether it represents proceeds of an offence, or whether the assets will ultimately be forfeited.
Questions about public accountability
The case has renewed attention on the management of funds within the petroleum sector and the controls designed to prevent the misuse of public office.
If the prosecution establishes its allegations, the proceedings could have significant implications for accountability in the sector. If the allegations are not proven, the accused persons must receive the protections guaranteed by law.
A proper assessment of the alleged transactions requires examination of financial records, company ownership documents, property acquisition dates, payment trails and evidence linking specific assets to the alleged collections.
The reported value of seized or frozen assets should not automatically be treated as the amount of money lost by the state. Similarly, the alleged collections are not, by themselves, proof that all the money was unlawfully obtained.
Political setback and legal proceedings
Abdul-Hamid’s failure to secure the NPP vice-chairmanship is a political development separate from the criminal proceedings against him.
The election result does not establish guilt or innocence, just as political affiliation cannot determine the outcome of a criminal case. The court must assess the admissible evidence and apply the relevant legal standards.
The central questions remain whether the prosecution can substantiate the alleged unlawful collections, establish the relevant financial transactions and demonstrate the connection between the alleged proceeds and the assets identified in the investigation.
The outcome of the case will depend on the evidence and the court’s determination, not the result of an internal party election.