National Petroleum Authority

National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is a statutory body set up by the Government of Ghana to regulate, oversee and monitor the Ghanaian petroleum industry.[1] The authority was established after calls by the general public for efficiency, growth and stakeholder satisfaction in the industry.[2] Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid currently heads the NPA.[3]

History

The authority was set up by Legislative Instrument of the Parliament of Ghana and it is powered by NPA Act of 2005. It is also known as ACT 691.[4] The authority is headquartered in Accra.[5][6]

Functions

The regulatory mission of the NPA allows it to regularly monitor and adjust the price of Petroleum products in Ghana.[7]

Lawsuits and Cases

NPA vs OSP

In November 2025, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) froze assets worth over GH₵100 million and US$100,000 linked to an alleged extortion and money laundering scheme at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).[8]

The case involves former NPA Chief Executive Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others accused of diverting more than GH₵291 million and US$332,000 between 2022 and 2024. The suspects face 54 charges, including extortion, money laundering, and abuse of office.[9] The OSP, acting under Act 959, said the freeze aims to prevent the dissipation of suspected illicit assets while investigations and prosecutions continue.[10][11]

In January 2026, Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) reported in its 2025 Half-Yearly Report that it had seized and taken control of various high-value assets linked to an ongoing criminal case involving former National Petroleum Authority Chief Executive Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others. The assets included four fuel stations in Accra (Opeikuma, Dansoman, Abeka Lapaz and Millennium City), several parcels of land across the country, high-end residential properties in Accra, multiple fuel tanker trucks, and cash totaling GH¢951,995.56. The OSP also seized luxury vehicles in a related investigation. The actions form part of exhibits in The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & Nine Others (CR/0603/2025), a case before the Criminal High Court in Accra, in which the accused are charged with conspiracy to extort more than GH¢291 million and related offences in the petroleum sector.[12]

References

  1. ^ "About us". www.npa.gov.gh. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  2. ^ "National Petroleum Authority". energymin.gov.gh. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Ebony was a moving target for me – Hassan Tampuli". www.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-14. Retrieved 2018-06-14.
  4. ^ "Objectives". npa.gov.gh. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  5. ^ "Contact Information". businessghana.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Location". africa-oil-gas.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Petrol price goes up again, effective today". ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  8. ^ Ghartey, Raphael (2025-11-04). "NPA scandal: Assets worth over GHC100m seized and frozen – OSP". 3News. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  9. ^ "NPA scandal: Full list of GH₵100m and US$100,000 assets seized by OSP - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  10. ^ "OSP seizes GH¢100m assets in NPA corruption probe". 2025-11-04. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  11. ^ Modern Ghana (2025-11-04). "OSP seizes over GH¢100m assets in alleged grand extortion case involving former NPA boss".
  12. ^ "OSP seizes fuel stations, luxury apartments, cash in GH¢291m NPA extortion case - MyJoyOnline". Retrieved 2026-01-29.