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OSP Probes Explosive GH₵1.3B Corruption Scandal at NPA, MIIF

OSP Launches Probe into GH₵1.3 Billion Corruption Scandal at NPA and MIIF

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated an extensive investigation into alleged corruption and financial misconduct at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF). The probe focuses on a staggering GH₵1.3 billion embezzlement from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) and payroll fraud within government institutions.

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng disclosed during a news conference in Accra on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, that the probe focuses on a number of financial irregularities within MIIF. These include dubious payments connected to Gold Asset Two (Enchi Gold Project), Asante Gold Corporation, Electrochem Ghana Limited, the Lithium Asset, the Small-Scale Mining Incubation Program, the Quarry Value Addition Program, and Agyapa Royalties Limited. The investigation also looks into office land purchases, board-related expenses, other MIIF investments, and operating costs.

Authorities are also looking into the funding sources and intended uses of international publications that MIIF commissioned. The OSP said that seven current MIIF executives and two retired officials are being investigated, however the identity of all those implicated are being kept confidential.

In addition, the OSP is investigating possible wrongdoing in the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund, specifically in relation to a purported misappropriation of GH₵1.3 billion at NPA. UPPF Coordinator Jacob Amuah, NPA employee Freda Tandem, NPA official Wendy Ashon Newman, and former NPA CEO Mustapha Abdul-Hamid are among the key individuals being investigated.

The investigation’s goals, according to the Special Prosecutor, are to determine the extent of monetary losses, find the offenders, and guarantee accountability.

The OSP and the Department of the Controller and Accountant-General worked together in late 2023 to evaluate the corruption risks associated with payroll fraud in government agencies. This program’s main objectives were to find and remove phantom identities, reclaim unpaid salaries, and bring criminal charges against individuals who disbursed salaries fraudulently.

Agyebeng revealed that six people were charged with manipulating the payroll system to embezzle government funds after a preliminary pilot study revealed serious flaws in the system. These persons have been accused of facilitating fraudulent wage payments by manipulating payroll records and engaging in public corruption. In the upcoming days, the High Court in Tamale is scheduled to begin their trial.

One of the most important steps in combating financial malpractices in Ghana’s public sector is the OSP’s crackdown on corruption in the MIIF, NPA, and payroll systems. Authorities are anticipated to take strict legal action against anyone involved as the inquiry progresses, guaranteeing accountability and bolstering financial governance.

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Source: Graphic Online News