Dr. Mustapha Hamid
The Special Prosecutor (SP) has commenced investigations into former Chief Executive of National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid over an alleged embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at the Authority.
Other persons of interest in the ongoing investigation are the Coordinator of the UPPF, Jacob Amuah; NPA staff, Freda Tandoh and Wendy Ashong Newman.
Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor, speaking at press conference yesterday indicated that the four are being investigated for corruption and corruption-related offences involving alleged misappropriation of funds from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF).
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has also commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of an alleged embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA),” he said.
He added that “the investigation primarily targets the Coordinator of the UPPF, Jacob Amuah; NPA staff, Freda Tandoh, Wendy Ashong Newman, and a former Chief Executive of NPA, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.”
The Special Prosecutor did not give any further details as to the roles any of the suspects played in the alleged financial malfeasance.
He, however, assured the public that further details would be provided as the investigation progresses.
“We are committed to uncovering the full extent of the financial losses and ensuring accountability,” Agyebeng stated.
The Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund is used to support the transportation of petroleum products around the country to ensure that prices of the product are evenly distributed in every part of the country irrespective of the location.
The UPPF ensures that the unified prices of petroleum products include an element representing as near as possible, the actual cost of distribution.
It also ensures that petroleum products reach the consumer wherever they live in Ghana efficiently, and that fuel is transported throughout the country in a manner that is simple, effective and inexpensive to operate administratively.
Cooperation
Meanwhile, the former minister has indicated his readiness to cooperate and assist the Office of the Special Prosecutor with the ongoing investigation.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid, in a Facebook post, noted that he had not been officially invited by the OSP but, nonetheless will cooperate with the investigation.
“My attention has been drawn to an announcement by the Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, that I am under investigation for some alleged embezzlement of funds at the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) during my tenure as the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority,” he wrote.
“As at this afternoon, I have neither received any invitation by any State investigative body nor have I been under investigation for any such alleged crime.
“However, I am willing to avail myself to assist in any investigations of the alleged embezzlement of funds,” he added.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak