The Criminal Division of the High Court has adjourned to December 9, 2025, the plea taking of Mustapha Hamid, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, and nine others.
The adjournment followed the case’s reassignment from Criminal Court Three to Court Four after prosecutors filed additional charges, raising the count from 25 to 54 in the ongoing extortion and money laundering matter.
The hearing, initially scheduled for November 13, could not proceed as the new court rescheduled the matter to its next available date.
Mr Hamid was also unable to move his application for the release of his passport due to the change in court.
The application, which relates to travel plans to Canada between November 17 and 23 to attend a political event, is expected to be heard on December 9.
The court is set to consider Mr Hamid’s motion seeking the release of his passport, which was seized as part of his bail conditions.
The prosecution has opposed the application.
Mr Hamid and the nine former officials have been arraigned over an alleged GH¢291 million extortion and money laundering scheme uncovered at the Authority.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has frozen assets exceeding GH¢100 million and US$100,000, including real estate holdings, lands, fuel stations, and fuel tankers.
Prosecutors informed the court that investigations are ongoing to trace additional assets.
