The High Court has dismissed an application by the accused persons in the ongoing National Petroleum Authority (NPA)–Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) corruption case seeking to have the charges against them struck out.

The ruling allows the substantive trial to continue, according to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which announced the development in a Facebook post on Wednesday, September 2.

The accused persons had asked the Court to terminate the charges against them, but the High Court dismissed the application as without merit.

The case involves former NPA Chief Executive Officer, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid; former UPPF Coordinator, Jacob Kwamina Amuah; NPA staff member Wendy Newman; Bright Bediako-Mensah; Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah; and three companies — Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited and Kings Energy Limited.

The Republic has brought 54 charges against the accused persons, including corruption and corruption-related offences, extortion, money laundering and conspiracy to commit a crime.

GH¢291.57m and US$332,407 allegedly obtained

According to the Republic’s case, approximately GH¢291.57 million and US$332,407 were unlawfully obtained between 2022 and December 2024 through an alleged scheme involving officials of the NPA.

The prosecution further alleges that portions of the funds were subsequently channelled through companies linked to some of the accused persons.

The OSP said the money was allegedly used in transactions involving various assets and commercial interests, including land, buildings, trucks and fuel stations.

Trial to proceed

The dismissal of the application means the prosecution’s case will proceed to substantive trial, where the allegations will be tested through evidence.

The ruling does not amount to a finding of guilt against any of the accused persons. They remain presumed innocent unless and until the Court determines otherwise.