The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been hit with a GH¢20 million defamation suit filed by former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, over allegations linking him to the supposed embezzlement of GH¢1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF).
Filed at the High Court (General Jurisdiction Division) in Accra on November 10, 2025, the suit seeks a declaration that statements made by the OSP during a February 12, 2025 media briefing were defamatory and had caused severe harm to Dr. Hamid’s reputation.
Through his lawyers at Applade Chambers, Dr. Hamid is demanding GH¢20 million in damages, a full and unqualified apology, and a retraction of the OSP’s claims. He is further asking the court to issue a perpetual injunction restraining the OSP and its agents from making any additional defamatory remarks about him.
According to the statement of claim, the OSP publicly announced that it had launched investigations into alleged corruption involving the diversion of GH¢1.3 billion from the UPPF, naming Dr. Hamid among four individuals under probe.
Dr. Hamid maintains that he was never informed of any such investigation before the public announcement and insists he was not involved in any embezzlement. He describes the OSP’s allegations as false, malicious, and unjustified, arguing that later developments have shown that no such financial loss occurred.
He further states that the OSP’s public remarks subjected him to embarrassment, emotional distress, and loss of professional opportunities, including consultancy and lecturing engagements abroad, severely damaging his reputation as an academic, politician, and respected public figure.
Court documents reveal that Dr. Hamid’s lawyers wrote to the OSP on February 17, 2025, demanding a retraction. However, the OSP instead reportedly responded on February 19 by directing him to appear for questioning regarding the alleged mismanagement of the UPPF.
