Court grants GH¢2 million bail to Hamid and others

Accra, Dec. 19,  – The Accra High Court has granted bail of GH¢2 million each to Mustapha Hamid, former Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, and two other accused persons in a case involving alleged extortion and money laundering.

Each accused is to produce three sureties. The Court further directed that one surety must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢5,000 net monthly income, while another must deposit documents covering landed property at the Court’s Registry. All sureties are also required to present valid national identification cards.

The accused are to report to the Registry twice a month, specifically on the first and last Tuesday, with the Registrar submitting periodic reports to the Court. Failure to comply will result in the issuance of a bench warrant.

In addition, seven other accused persons were granted bail of GH¢2 million each with three sureties, including public servants earning a minimum net salary of GH¢3,000, who must likewise provide valid identification. They will report on the same schedule until the matter is concluded.

The Court directed the prosecution to file all processes by January 12, 2025, and set a four-day case management conference. It also adopted previous bail conditions, acknowledging challenges encountered by the accused in satisfying the initial terms.

Defence counsel informed the Court that their clients had complied with existing bail directives, including the surrender of passports to the Registry and periodic reporting to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) between July and December 2025.

Hamid and nine co-accused, who now face 54 counts in connection with a GH¢291 million criminal case transferred to High Court Four, are charged with extortion, abuse of office, and money laundering.

The OSP has frozen assets valued at over GH¢100 million and US$100,000, including properties, land holdings, fuel stations and tankers, with additional assets still being tracked.

The alleged accomplices named in the case are Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited and Kings Energy Limited.

GHBUSS