Counsel for the embattled former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Dr. Abdul-Hamid, has expressed appreciation to the High Court for granting his client bail in a case involving allegations of extortion and abuse of office.

The bail, set at GHS 2 million with two sureties, one of whom must be justified, was granted on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, by Justice Ellen Mireku, who presided over the case brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

One of the sureties must be a civil servant earning at least GHS 5,000 monthly.

Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM shortly after the court sitting, Mr Joseph Kpemka, former Deputy Attorney-General and lead counsel for Dr. Hamid, welcomed the decision, describing the bail conditions as “absolutely not harsh.”

“We are grateful to the court for showing fairness and granting bail.

The conditions are reasonable and not excessive considering the nature of the allegations,” Mr. Kpemka said.

As part of the bail conditions, Dr. Abdul-Hamid is required to deposit his passport with the court and report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) twice a week until further notice.

The former NPA boss, who appeared before the High Court on Wednesday, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors allege that he solicited large sums of money from petroleum industry players under the pretext of providing regulatory clearance and allegedly threatened to delay or deny approvals to those who did not comply.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid, also a former Minister for Information and respected academic, has categorically denied the charges, describing them as politically motivated attempts to tarnish his reputation.

The court has adjourned the case to August 12, 2025, for case management and further proceedings.