Accra: The trial of former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, along with seven others, has been postponed to August 27, 2026. This delay follows an injunction application that challenges the hearing of selected cases during the legal vacation period.
According to Ghana Web, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the application on Thursday, August 20, 2026. The decision could influence whether the trial will continue during the legal vacation or be postponed until the new legal year begins in October.
Previously, the Accra High Court dismissed a request from the defense lawyers of four accused individuals to pause the proceedings and resume the trial in October. The court ordered the continuation of the case during the vacation, based on a directive from Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. This directive mandates that certain high-profile criminal cases be heard during this period.
The recent adjournment allows time for the court to receive the Supreme Court's ruling on the injunction challenge concerning the legal vacation arrangement. The prosecution, led by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), charges Dr. Abdul-Hamid and the co-accused with unlawfully obtaining funds from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies within the petroleum sector. All accused parties have denied these allegations.
The trial is set to resume before the Accra High Court on August 27, 2026, contingent on the Supreme Court's decision regarding the injunction application.