My Father Not a Thief or Corrupt — Son of Ex NPA Boss Dr. Mustapha Hamid Defends Dad’s Integrity

The son of Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, embattled former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Zaki Hamid has publicly come to his father’s defense amid an ongoing legal case, insisting that his father has never been corrupt nor involved in any act of theft during his years in public service.

Dr Abdul-Hamid is the first accused in a high-profile case involving ten individuals and corporate entities accused of orchestrating a widespread corruption scheme within the petroleum sector between 2022 and 2024.

In a heartfelt statement shared on social media earlier which is now making rounds once again, the young son of Dr. Abdul Hamid expressed confidence in his father’s innocence.

He recounted a personal story from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) era, when he had to comfort a friend whose father was facing prosecution. He reflected on the emotional weight of such moments, acknowledging that he now finds himself in a similar situation.

Defending his father’s record, he described his father Dr. Hamid as a man of principle and integrity who was always conscious of avoiding any action that could compromise his reputation.

“One thing I can confidently say about my dad is that throughout his public service — from his time as Minister for Information and Presidential Spokesperson, through to the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development, and finally at the National Petroleum Authority — he was extremely careful to avoid any involvement in corruption,” he wrote.

According to him, Dr. Hamid’s incorruptibility was well known even among politicians and businessmen. He recalled several instances when his father rejected offers that could have brought him immense personal gain but at the cost of ethical compromise.

He cited, for instance, how in 2007, when the NPP flagbearer search for a running mate was underway, “a prominent northern politician even offered him a substantial sum of money if he could convince the then-candidate to select him as running mate.” Dr. Hamid reportedly rejected the offer outright.

Again, during the COVID-19 period, he said, his father “fiercely opposed a deal pushed by a powerful businessman, believing it wasn’t in the country’s best interest — even though he was promised a significant personal cut if he helped push it through.”

He also disclosed that following the 2020 elections, when his father served as deputy campaign manager for the NPP, he returned GHS 900,000 in unspent campaign funds, despite there being “no strict accountability for such money.”

“These moments reflect his consistent refusal to compromise on integrity, even when faced with pressure, money, or influence,” he said.

Touching on the current case involving his father, he stressed that contrary to public speculation, no accusation of theft has been made against him.

“For me, my father’s greatest fear, m being caught in a corruption scandal — has not come to pass. He has never been accused of stealing state funds, not from any of the ministries he headed, nor from the National Petroleum Authority. Instead, the charge brought against him is ‘extortion’ — yes, extortion,” he stated.

He maintained that a simple check at the NPA would confirm that all four accounts his father left behind “held funds that had more than quadrupled what he met, clearly proving that no money is missing.”