Ghana High Court denies Mustapha Hamid request to travel abroad

The High Court in Accra has dismissed an application by Dr. Mustapha Hamid, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), seeking permission to travel overseas while on trial. Hamid, who previously served as Minister for Information, is the primary accused in a case involving allegations of extorting funds from operators within the petroleum sector.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) opposed the motion, arguing that existing bail conditions restricting his movement should remain. In its ruling on October 22, 2026, the court stated that an accused person on bail must demonstrate compelling and exceptional reasons to have movement restrictions lifted. The judge determined that the grounds provided by Hamid did not meet this legal threshold.

This decision follows previous procedural developments in the case, including the court's rejection of an attempt to strike out the charge sheet and a denied request for an adjournment. The legal proceedings are expected to move toward a case management conference to establish timelines for the trial.