Ghanaian dancehall artist, Shatta Wale, has called for the arrest of former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah, amid allegations of a one million dollar theft scandal.
Alongside his concerns about the state of the music industry, Shatta Wale has also expressed his deep frustration with the current political landscape in the country.
In a recent Instagram live video, Shatta Wale passionately criticized what he perceives as a lack of accountability and transparency within Ghana’s political system.
He highlighted his dissatisfaction with the priorities of politicians, suggesting that they appear to be more focused on trivial matters rather than addressing the urgent and critical issues facing the nation.
Shatta Wale specifically pointed to the recent scandal involving Cecilia Dapaah.
He questioned the focus of public attention, noting that the discussion seemed to be centered around the house helpers accused of stealing the money, rather than directing scrutiny toward the minister herself for harboring such a substantial sum of money at her residence.
Using strong words, Shatta Wale criticized the politicians, accusing them of prioritizing their personal gains over the well-being of the nation.
He expressed skepticism about the genuine commitment of many individuals who enter politics, suggesting that their motivations are driven by financial interests rather than a true dedication to the country’s progress.
Shatta Wale’s concerns mirror the sentiments of numerous citizens who feel unheard and believe that the concerns of the public are being ignored by those in positions of power.
The recent theft scandal involving the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah, and the subsequent public outrage have amplified these sentiments, prompting further scrutiny into the minister’s financial matters and accounts.
Ghanaian dancehall musician Shatta Wale is demanding the arrest of Cecilia Dapaah, a former minister of sanitation, in connection with the $1 million theft scandal and its fallout.
In a recent Instagram live video where he bemoaned the state of the music business and the country as a whole, he said this.
He questioned why the sanitation minister was not held solely responsible and that the focus was instead turned to the house helpers who were accused of stealing the money.
“Look at our politicians, they aren’t studying politics they’re studying the foolishness of Ghanaians. That is why the sanitation minister can have a million dollars stolen from her house and everyone is talking about the house help who stole the money rather than asking why the minister has 1 million dollars in her house,” he questioned.
“That is why they will come and take the money we’ve worked hard for in the form of taxes and they will put in their houses for their house helps to steal. The sanitation minister should be arrested and jailed for keeping that money in her house, not the house help. How many years has she worked to have that kind of money in her house?” he demanded.
According to Shatta Wale, anyone who enters politics is only acting in their own self-interest and not that of the nation.
“The politicians know that you can’t tell them their faults, and that is why they can do whatever they want. Anybody you see going into politics is going for the money, not in the interest of the people. All of them, apart from me. As you are in Ghana, just pray, because this country will never change, the money will keep going wherever it’s going,” he said.
He made these remarks in response to recent revelations that two housekeepers stole $1,000,000, $300,000, and other items from the home of Madam Cecilia Dapaah, the former Minister of Sanitation.
Following the uproar, the Office of the Special Prosecutor searched her home and bank accounts and found a number of different sums of money.
Former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, has condemned the special prosecutor’s move to secure a freeze and seizure order on her assets, denouncing it as an effort to perpetuate arbitrary power based on distorted facts and ensuing media frenzy.
This information was revealed by her legal team as they contested the application on Thursday.
Before Justice Edward Twum, lawyers from both sides debated the confirmation of the orders for property seizure and freezing on Thursday.
The office of the special prosecutor, represented by Dr. Isidore Tuffour, contended that the order adheres to the Special Prosecutor Act (959) and is meant to prevent the concealment of properties suspected to be connected to corruption.
The confirmation application seeks to seize $590,000 and GHC 2,730,000 discovered during a search of Dapaah’s three associated houses.
Dr. Tuffour stated in court that Dapaah couldn’t account for the funds, and the ownership of the money is disputed.
Cecilia Dapaah’s lawyers, led by Victoria Barth, argued that the confirmation application violated the outlined procedure in the Special Prosecutor Act. She asserted that the application should have been brought within seven days after the seizure, as specified in section 32(2) of the Act.
Barth further argued that the discovery of substantial amounts in Dapaah’s home doesn’t justify property seizure. She maintained that the applicant hadn’t provided sufficient grounds to prove the money’s corruption connection.
The special prosecutor’s office also intends to freeze Dapaah’s bank accounts at Prudential Bank and Societe Generale.
The anti-corruption lawyers contended that the court must ensure the respondent is being investigated for corruption, which they believe they have demonstrated.
However, Dapaah’s lawyers countered that being investigated for corruption doesn’t alone justify freezing her accounts.
According to them, the Special Prosecutor Act necessitates reasonable grounds for believing the property is tainted.
The Judge adjourned the case to August 31 for his ruling after hearing arguments from both sides.
Spouse of ex-Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, Daniel Osei Kuffour, has been taken into custody as part of ongoing inquiries into purported corruption and related offenses. This follows reports of funds allegedly misappropriated from their residence.
This fresh revelation emerged during court proceedings as the office of the Special Prosecutor submitted an application to validate an order for freezing the bank accounts of Cecilia Dapaah. Additionally, they sought to confiscate approximately $590,000 and GHC 2,730,000 discovered at her residence in Abelemkpe.
However, the judge overseeing the proceedings raised a question regarding the singular focus on investigating Cecilia Dapaah, considering that the allegedly tainted funds were discovered in her marital residence.
Responding to this, Dr. Isidore Tuffour, the representative of the special prosecutor’s office, stated that Cecilia Dapaah’s spouse had also been taken into custody.
But the lawyer for Cecilia Dapaah noted that this was information to them as her client is not aware of the supposed arrest of her husband.
Meanwhile, Cecilia Dapaah has described the application of the special prosecutor to confirm a freeze and seizure order against her properties as an attempt to perpetuate the arbitrary exercise of power based on the misrepresentation of facts and the resultant media frenzy.
Her lawyers made this known when they opposed the application on Thursday.
Lawyers of the anti-corruption agency and the former sanitation minister on Thursday argued before Justice Edward Twum on whether the orders for seizure and freezing of the properties should be confirmed.
The office of the special prosecutor represented by Dr. Isidore Tuffour argued that the order is in line with the office of the Special prosecutor ACT (959) to prevent concealment of a property believed to be tainted with corruption.
The confirmation application by the office of the special prosecutor is aimed at seizing $590,000 and GHC 2,730,000 found in her home upon a search of three houses associated with her.
On this, Dr. Tuffour revealed in court that Cecilia Dapaah could not explain how she came by the funds and the ownership of the allegedly stolen monies is in dispute.
For the lawyer, these justify their application for confirmation of the seizure order. He contended that the office suspects the monies found to be tainted with corruption.
Lawyers for Cecilia Dapaah, led by Victoria Barth on the other hand argued that the application for confirmation was brought in contravention with the procedure outlined in the office of the special prosecutor ACT.
She contended that the office of the special prosecutor ACt 959 in section 32(2) mandates the office to bring the application for confirmation within seven days after the seizure. She argued that the instant application was filed after the seven days had elapsed.
Victoria Barth further urged before the court that the fact that substantial amounts were found in the home of her clients does not justify the seizure of the property. It is her view that the applicant has not shown any grounds to prove that the monies found are tainted.
The special prosecutor’s office is also seeking to freeze the bank accounts of the former sanitation minister at Prudential Bank and Societe General. The lawyers of the anti-corruption contended that for their plea to be granted the court has to satisfy itself if the respondent is being investigated for corruption which they believe to have fulfilled.
Dr Tuffour argued that there is no requirement for them to show grounds for suspicion that the accounts are tainted.
He argued that the lawmaker under ACT 959 ‘did not provide that requirement to provide grounds for the freezing.
But lawyers of Cecilia Dapaah argued that the mere fact that their client is being investigated for corruption is not enough grounds for her accounts to be frozen.
According to her, the special prosecutor ACT requires the applicant to demonstrate reasonable grounds for believing that the property is tainted property and not just a mere assertion of the fact.
Ghanaians are yet to get over the revelation that huge sums of money are lying in the residence of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are reported to have been robbed by two of their house helps in their home in Abelemkpe, Accra.
Seven accused persons are standing trial for the theft case.
They are Patience Botwe, 18, hairdresser; Sarah Agyei, 30, unemployed; Benjamin Sowah, 29, plumber; Malik Dauda, 34, unemployed; Christiana Achab, a trader; Job Pomary, a mechanic; and Yahaya Sumaila, an excavator operator. They are facing 14 counts of conspiracy, stealing, and dishonestly receiving.
The case came to light in July and the matter is being investigated by the Police and the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Initial comments from some Ghanaians questioned why the former minister had kept such amount in her home. Authorities are currently investigating the source such money.
However, some Ghanaians have already pronounced Madam Cecilia Dapaah guilty.
Engaging the media, a middle-aged woman accused Ghanaian politicians of starching monies under their beds, preventing the ordinary Ghanaian from having funds to take up lucrative ventures that will grow the economy.
“The monies under your beds and polythene bags, God will judge you. So now when you go to the banks, there are no funds,” she bemoaned.
“Why, what have we done you,” she quizzed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LE8JyBOnFHE
New findings in Cecilia Dapaah’s theft case
A recent report by JoyNews shed light on new documents indicating a comprehensive investigation conducted by the police in 2022.
According to these documents, on October 4, 2022, Cecilia Dapaah issued a warning to a member of her domestic staff, cautioning them against accessing specific rooms within the residence during their employment.
Despite this warning, on October 6, 2022, the staff member breached these instructions and was apprehended by Dapaah’s husband, Daniel Kuffuor.
Subsequently, Kuffuor reported the incident to the Tesano Police Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, initiating an official complaint.
Upon Dapaah’s return on October 10, she conducted an inventory to identify the missing items from her room. The items included Kente cloth, women’s clothing, jewelry, and an undisclosed sum of money.
Subsequently, the police gathered a statement from the young suspect and proceeded to file appropriate charges. Later, on October 26, 2022, the suspect was presented before the Circuit Court. However, due to inconsistencies in determining her age, she was released and subsequently re-apprehended, with fresh charges being pressed in the Juvenile Court.
In spite of the initial charges being relatively minor, such as unlawful entry and entering premises for unlawful purposes, the suspect faced more serious accusations, including the theft of unspecified funds, as per the documented list of missing items.
Curiously, the obtained documents did not make reference to the alleged theft of 1 million dollars, suits, and other sums in Ghana cedis.
These allegations came to light in court filings against the same suspect and four accomplices in July 2023, all related to the original theft that took place in October 2022.
Member of parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has accused some banks of disclosing account information for some ministers of state and other authorities.
He thought that would help to explain why some people chose to store their significant sums of cash at home.
In an interview with Roland Walker on TV3 on August 16, Mr. Agyapong remarked, “We cannot run away from it.
The issue is the previous Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaa, who stored enormous amounts of money at her apartment. Although I am aware that there may be criticism, God knows that I stated the truth.
“When Victoria Hammah said If ‘I make one million dollars’, look at the backlash Ghanains gave. The one who said if I make got this back then what about the one who has it?
He added that because the banks are aware of his company, they wouldn’t question him about sending money to the bank, but other people will be interrogated if they do the same.
“The banks leak information that this minister has this amount of money at home,” he alleged.
Dormaa East Member of Parliament, Paul Twum Barimah, has urged the Auditor General to modernize the process of assets declaration, making it available online for easy access.
He emphasised that the computerization of assets declaration for public officials enhances its accessibility to the public, allowing individuals to conveniently update their information whenever necessary.
Paul Twum Barimah believes that if the Auditor General complies strictly with the assets declaration regulations, a lot of people will be put behind bars for non-compliance.
His comment comes on the back of the Former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah’s stolen money which is being probed by the office of the Special Prosecutor to identify the source of her wealth.
Speaking with the media in Parliament, the Dormaa East MP asserted that if the Auditor general implements the computerization of the declaration of assets, it will help to hold government officials accountable with respect to their assets.
“I think it is important that the Auditor General comes out clear for us to know how we can do this. And I am calling for them to as soon as possible computerize this declaration. Give me a code, and let me be able to sit behind my machine and open it and update it. If I update it and submit it, I can’t alter it and that is the way…And if they are saying they are going strictly by law, I can confidently tell you that there are a lot of people who will be put behind bars,” he stated according to Citinewsroom.com.
There have been numerous calls for the source of Cecilia Dapaah’s funds to be established amid speculations that her wealth was ill-gotten.
The office of the Special Prosecutor is conducting an investigation into the case to identify culprits and ascertain the source of Cecilia Dapaah’s wealth.
Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama has raised concerns about the persistent lack of response from the government regarding the scandal involving the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah.
Joyce Bawa Mogtari intimates that the absence of a response raises questions about whether the government truly holds a regard for the citizens of Ghana.
In a tweet on Saturday, August 12, the former Deputy Transport Minister said government has simply lost the fight against corruption.
According to her, any government that is serious about the corruption fight would have addressed the public on the issue.
“While we continue to wonder how an individual, a Minister of State, will keep such large sums of money at home, when she’s not known to have any other business, is it not surprising that the government has still not addressed the Cecilia Dapaah scandal?”
“This is unprecedented in our history,” she tweeted.
Sources at the Office of the Special Prosecutor on Thursday, August 10, disclosed the amounts of money in the frozen bank accounts of the former minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
While we continue to wonder how an individual, a Min of State, will keep such large sums of money at home, when she’s not known to have any other business, is it not surprising that the gov. has still not addressed the Cecilia Dapaah scandal? This is unprecedented in our history.
The sources revealed that the OSP tracked $5 million that had hit the account over a period, along with GH¢48 million found in Cecilia Dapaah’s Prudential Bank accounts.
Also, it found GH¢1 million in investments and GH¢700,000 in cash in her Societe General account.
Details from Kissi Agyebeng’s Office have revealed that a cash amount of $590,000 was discovered during a search at her Abelemkpe home.
At the same residence, a sum of ¢2,730,000 in cash was found.
JoyNews understands the former Minister’s cedi and dollar accounts have been frozen by OSP pending further investigations.
The OSP on July 26, arrested Cecilia Abena Dapaah and conducted a search in her official residence at Cantonments after it emerged that two house helps had stolen huge amounts of money and some items from her home.
Her private residence at Abelemkpe in Accra, where the said theft reportedly took place between July and October 2022, was also searched.
OSP subsequently filed a motion to confirm the seized money it retrieved from the former Minister’s residence and to also confirm the frozen bank accounts.
A private legal practitioner and Head of Political Affairs for the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah, has stressed the importance of upholding the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” in the case involving the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
Speaking to the media on August 11, 2023, Mr Jantuah stated that despite the allegations and the significant amount of money involved, adding that Cecilia Dapaah’s guilt can only be determined by a court of law.
He pointed out that Dapaah is currently contesting the charges in court and therefore should not be prematurely accused of theft.
Mr Jantuah explained, “At the present moment, Cecilia Dapaah is innocent until proven guilty, especially with the amount of money we are talking about. And remember, there is a case in court where she has taken it to court for the stealing of money that she says is her property.”
He further elaborated that while certain amounts of money in question have been linked to specific sources, others remain unaccounted for.
His comments underscore the importance of allowing the legal process to unfold before passing judgment.
Cecilia Dapaah has been at the center of a controversy in recent weeks after it was revealed that substantial amounts of money had been stolen from her Abelemkpe residence.
The ongoing trial involves seven individuals who are accused of being involved in the theft from Dapaah’s home and that of her husband.
Jantuah’s reminder about the presumption of innocence highlights the need for a fair and thorough legal process to determine the truth of the matter.
Fresh revelations continue to surface daily amidst the controversy surrounding the misappropriated funds stolen from the residence of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
Official court documents, which earlier surfaced revealed substantial sums of money, encompassing both local and foreign currencies, which were discovered at properties linked to the embattled former minister.
These properties, situated in Cantonments, Abelemkpe, and Tesano, underwent a thorough search.
At the Abelemkpe location, where reportedly $1 million USD, £300,000 GBP, as well as valuable items like Kente fabric and jewelry belonging to the ex-minister and her spouse were allegedly stolen, further funds have been uncovered by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The documentation discloses that an additional $590,000 USD in cash was found there, alongside a sum of GH¢2,730,000.
Meanwhile, JoyNews has obtained documents indicating the specific amounts of money detected in the former minister’s accounts at Prudential Bank and Société Générale Ghana.
The report states that $5 million USD and GH¢48 million were identified in Cecelia Dapaah’s Prudential Bank accounts.
Additionally, her Société Générale account held GH¢1 million in investments and ¢700,000 in cash.
In response, the OSP has frozen these bank accounts and has submitted an application to the High Court in Accra, seeking validation of its actions as stipulated by law.
The Accra High Court will decide on the continuation of asset freezing by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
The OSP has requested for the court to validate its asset freeze order on Cecilia Dapaah’s properties.
According to a document from the OSP : “Confirmation of the seizure by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of the property of the Respondent upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit and for any further order(s) as the court may deem fit.”
The High Court has scheduled August 17, 2023, for the confirmation or rejection of the OSP’s asset freeze action against Dapaah.
On August 9, 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor froze Cecilia Dapaah’s bank accounts and assets containing millions of dollars and cedis.
The OSP has initiated the process to have this administrative freeze officially endorsed by the court, following its powers to administratively freeze accounts.
Confirmation from the court is required to extend the freezing of accounts and assets beyond the initial period.
The case concerning the asset freeze is expected to be heard next week.
In the meantime, reliable sources suggest that substantial amounts of US dollars and Ghana cedis were discovered in various bank accounts of the former minister.
Additionally, funds were retrieved from her residences during a search by the OSP.
Documents obtained from court sources reveal that the OSP has filed a motion to seize the money retrieved from the searches.
Cecilia Dapaah has been under scrutiny after an alleged theft at her residence in Abelemkpe, Accra.
Her domestic staff is accused of stealing over one million dollars and other valuables belonging to her and her husband.
The OSP’s investigation is separate from the police and the Attorney General’s investigations into the matter.
The OSP is focusing on corruption-related offences, while the police and the AG’s office are prosecuting those implicated in stealing funds related to the former minister.
Seven people are facing trial at the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing a huge amount of money and other valuables from the residence of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former minister of sanitation and water resources in Ghana.
The accused persons are Patience Botwe, Sarah Agyei, Benjamin Sowah, Malik Dauda, Christiana Achab, Job Pomary and Yahaya Sumaila.
They are alleged to have stolen $1 million dollars, 300,000 euros and other properties including kente cloths and jewellery from the complainants’ residence. They are also alleged to have gone on an extravagant spending spree with the stolen money, buying houses, cars and other items.
The case has generated public outrage and interest in Ghana, as many people wonder how a government minister could have such a huge amount of money in her house and why she delayed in reporting the theft for seven months. The case has also exposed the corruption and inequality that plague the country’s economy and society.
According to the prosecution led by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, Patience Botwe, alias Maabena, is an 18-year-old hairdresser who used to work as a house help for the complainants. She is the main suspect in the case, as she is accused of masterminding the theft and recruiting others to assist her.
Benjamin Sowah
Patience Botwe is also the girlfriend of Benjamin Sowah, a 29-year-old plumber who allegedly helped her to steal and hide the money. Patience and Benjamin were arrested in Tamale, where they had rented a three-bedroom apartment and a storeroom with some of the stolen money. They also bought two cars, a Hyundai Elantra and a Honda Civic, and several household items with the loot.
Sarah Agyei
Sarah Agyei is a 30-year-old unemployed woman who was also a former house help for the complainants. She is accused of being an accomplice to Patience, as she allegedly kept watch of the main gate while Patience entered the complainants’ room to steal their money. She also shared in the spoils and used some of the money to build a three-bedroom house at Budumburam, a suburb of Kasoa. She was arrested from her hideout after Patience mentioned her name during interrogation.
Malik Dauda
Malik Dauda is a 34-year-old unemployed man who was Patience’s former boyfriend. He is accused of receiving GH¢5,000 from Patience and GH¢100,000 from Sarah out of the stolen money. He admitted to receiving the money during interrogation.
Christiana Achab& Job Pomary
Christiana Achab is a trader who is married to Job Pomary, a mechanic. They have a son named Franklin Sarakpo, who is on the run. Christiana is accused of collecting GH¢2,830,000 from Patience, knowing that it was stolen money. She used some of the money to buy an 11-unit chamber and hall self-contain house at Budumburam for herself. She also bought a three-bedroom house at Aplaku for Patience and a four-bedroom house at Kokrobite for herself and her husband. She also gave some of the money to her son Franklin to buy two Honda Acura vehicles.
Yahaya Sumaila
Yahaya Sumaila is an excavator operator who resides at Sagnarigu in Tamale. He is accused of receiving GH¢850,000 from Christiana to buy a three-bedroom house at Amrahia in his name.
Charges
The seven accused persons face 14 counts of conspiracy, stealing and dishonestly receiving. They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges and have been granted bail or remanded into custody depending on their circumstances. The court presided over by Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah has adjourned the case to August 22, 2023 for further hearing.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has also taken over the case docket after full investigations are concluded. The Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu, has vowed to ensure that justice is served and that all those involved in the theft are prosecuted and punished according to the law.
The complainants, Daniel Osei Kufour and his wife Cecilia Abena Dapaah, have declined to comment on the case publicly. However, sources close to them have revealed that they are shocked and saddened by the betrayal of their former house helps and that they hope to recover their stolen money and properties soon.
The case has attracted widespread attention from the media and the public, as many people are curious about how the theft was carried out and how the accused persons spent the money. Some people have also expressed sympathy for the complainants, while others have criticized them for keeping such a large amount of cash in their house instead of depositing it in a bank or investing it in a productive venture.
The case is expected to resume on August 22, 2023, when the prosecution and the defence will present their evidence and arguments before the court.
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Kwabena Agyepong, has faulted former Sanitation Minister Cecelia Dapaah for keeping a colossal amount of money in her home, which she is currently unable to account for.
In an interview on JoyNews, Mr Agyepong noted that under the dispensation of the digitalization agenda drive, the former minister should have known better to store her funds with a financial institution rather than her residence.
Expressing his disappointment, he noted that Madam Cecilia Dapaah swayed away from the very ideas her government has been propagating.
“What for me I worry about, especially with this case, was the fact of the amount of money that was found in the household…Suffice it to say I was disappointed that that amount of money was in the household. It’s important that we realise that we cannot, as politicians, preach one thing and do another,” he said.
“So when you’re encouraging everybody to be part of the formal economy, the least we can do as leaders is to lead by example. So I was disappointed that she would keep that amount of money in the household. It is important that as political leaders, we should have the political will to do the right thing for our country,” he stated.
However, Mr. Agyepong noted that he would refrain from making judgments about the former minister as relevant state agencies are currently conducting investigations into the origin of the money.
“I’m not prepared to pass judgment on her. Like others are doing, not at all. It is not my duty now. The state has agencies that have to look out for how she came by that money.”
The police have amended the charge sheet against the seven accused persons who are standing trial for the theft case.
They are Patience Botwe, 18, hairdresser; Sarah Agyei, 30, unemployed; Benjamin Sowah, 29, plumber; Malik Dauda, 34, unemployed; Christiana Achab, a trader; Job Pomary, a mechanic; and Yahaya Sumaila, an excavator operator. They are facing 14 counts of conspiracy, stealing, and dishonestly receiving.
They are alleged to have stolen $1 million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis from the former minister’s residence at Abelemkpe in Accra between July and October 2022.
Sarah Agyei and Christiana Achab, who are said to be nursing mothers, have been granted bail of GH¢1 million each with three sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court registrar and not travel outside the jurisdiction. The rest of the accused persons have been remanded in custody pending further investigations.
The prosecution has indicated that the Attorney General’s office will take over the case after full investigations are concluded. The defence lawyers have argued that their clients are innocent until proven guilty. The court has also asked the lawyers of the accused mothers to provide proof of their claim and shown a six-month-old baby who is under the care of a caregiver.
The eighth accused person, Franklin Sarakpo, is still on the run. The father of Patience Botwe, Kweku Botwe, who was among the five persons initially arraigned, has been discharged following the Attorney General’s advice on the case.
The case has been adjourned to August 22, 2023 by Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah.
The cars are registered in the names of Christiana Achab, a trader, and Patience Botwe, a hairdresser, who are among the seven accused persons facing trial for the theft case.
The police have also discovered four more houses that were allegedly purchased with the stolen money by the suspects. The houses are located in Budumburam, Aplaku and Kokrobite in the Central Region and Amrahia in the Greater Accra Region.
These new findings add to the previous properties that were recovered from the suspects, including cash, jewellery, handbags, kente cloths and other household items.
The police have amended the charge sheet against the seven accused persons who are standing trial for the theft case. They are Patience Botwe, 18, hairdresser; Sarah Agyei, 30, unemployed; Benjamin Sowah, 29, plumber; Malik Dauda, 34, unemployed; Christiana Achab, a trader; Job Pomary, a mechanic; and Yahaya Sumaila, an excavator operator. They are facing 14 counts of conspiracy, stealing and dishonestly receiving.
They are alleged to have stolen $1 million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis from the former minister’s residence at Abelemkpe in Accra between July and October 2022.
Sarah Agyei and Christiana Achab, who are said to be nursing mothers, have been granted bail of GH¢1 million each with three sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court registrar and not travel outside the jurisdiction. The rest of the accused persons have been remanded in custody pending further investigations.
The prosecution has indicated that the Attorney General’s office will take over the case after full investigations are concluded. The defence lawyers have argued that their clients are innocent until proven guilty. The court has also asked the lawyers of the accused mothers to provide proof of their claim and shown a six-month-old baby who is under the care of a caregiver.
The eighth accused person, Franklin Sarakpo, is still on the run. The father of Patience Botwe, Kweku Botwe, who was among the five persons initially arraigned, has been discharged following the Attorney General’s advice on the case.
The case has been adjourned to August 22, 2023 by Her Honour Afia Owusuaa Appiah.
The police have discovered four more houses that were allegedly purchased with money stolen from the home of former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. The houses are located in Budumburam, Aplaku and Kokrobite in the Central Region and Amrahia in the Greater Accra Region.
The police have also found two new Honda Acura cars, worth over GH¢600,000, that were bought with the stolen money. The cars are registered in the names of two of the accused persons.
These new findings add to the previous properties that were recovered from the suspects, including cash, jewellery, handbags, kente cloths and other household items.
The police have amended the charge sheet against the seven accused persons who are standing trial for the theft case. They are Patience Botwe, 18, hairdresser; Sarah Agyei, 30, unemployed; Benjamin Sowah, 29, plumber; Malik Dauda, 34, unemployed; Christiana Achab, a trader; Job Pomary, a mechanic; and Yahaya Sumaila, an excavator operator.
They are facing 14 counts of conspiracy, stealing and dishonestly receiving. They are alleged to have stolen $1 million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis from the former minister’s residence at Abelemkpe in Accra between July and October 2022.
Sarah Agyei and Christiana Achab, who are said to be nursing mothers, have been granted bail of GH¢1 million each with three sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court registrar and not travel outside the jurisdiction.
The rest of the accused persons have been remanded in custody pending further investigations.
The prosecution has indicated that the Attorney General’s office will take over the case after full investigations are concluded.
The defence lawyers have argued that their clients are innocent until proven guilty.
The court has also asked the lawyers of the accused mothers to provide proof of their claim and shown a six-month-old baby who is under the care of a caregiver.
The eighth accused person, Franklin Sarakpo, is still on the run.
The father of Patience Botwe, Kweku Botwe, who was among the five persons initially arraigned, has been discharged following the Attorney General’s advice on the case.
Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has responded to the ongoing controversy surrounding the disappearance of a significant amount of money from the residence of former sanitation minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
The MP, who previously referred to the former minister as a ‘mother’ during her tenure as Bantama MP, expressed that he was initially hesitant to accept the news when he first heard about it.
Despite being presented with a charge sheet, he inquired if the document had not been altered or fabricated, only becoming convinced of its authenticity afterwards.
“Initially when I heard it, I didn’t believe it, I thought it was the usual thing that we do to each other, just tell lies and escalate and exaggerate them until someone was showing me a court document,” he told Bridget Otoo on the August 7 edition of the On-On-One show.
“And I was like, are you really sure? … I still had my doubt that Hon Cecilia Dapaah, my former colleague, remember she represented Bantama and we were all in this chamber and I called her mother because we were all in the Ashanti Caucus, we respect each other.”
Muntaka stressed that as a minister, her committee always complained of lack of funds but that it was contradictory that she was keeping as much money in her house.
“When she comes into this House, sometimes her committee complains that there is nothing, there is nothing, there is nothing. Will all this there is nothing and there is this thing in your house, it looks contradictory for me, seriously,” he stressed.
He posed questions relative to the risks that came with keeping such monies in the house before taking a swipe at some of the politicians who were criticizing the embattled former MP.
“Why do you keep such large chunks of money in the house? Let’s assume without admitting that these monies are genuinely and sincerely acquired. What if that house got burnt, what if armed robbers came into the house… is it not safer in the bank?
“Let me admit, a lot of people who are equally screaming and saying things…you will be shocked that they are equally keeping the same kind of monies in their homes,” he added.
The Chronicle Newspaper on June 20 broke the news of missing monies and other valuables from the home of Cecilia Dapaah.
A leaked tape, purported to be the voice of one of the maids of former sanitation minister Cecilia Dapaah, has revealed shocking details about her interactions with Madam Dapaah before the issue of her alleged theft made headlines.
According to the audio, released on GH Pages TV’s YouTube channel, a voice that reportedly belongs to one of the accused maids, is heard detailing how Cecilia Dapaah treated her when she responded to the former’s summon to visit her house.
This was after she had stolen the money.
The maid claimed that Ms Dapaah poured hot water laced with pepper on her and beat her up with a wooden spatula.
“On Tuesday, the woman called me and my guy to come to her house. So when we went to the house, as for me, I know that we are going to beg her, because you said that your money and I have come to put your money down.
So why? So we are going to beg her. When we went there, the woman poured hot water, pepper and used that wooden spoon they use to cook (banku ta) to beat me.”
She also said that Madam Dapaah took her to the police station and had her arrested. She said she spent about a month in remand before the case was dismissed and later submitted to another court.
“And later on she took me to the police station, and they arrested me again. And I was in the cells for about two weeks, and they took me to court. When they took me to court, the court also gave me remand for two weeks. I was in remand [for] about one month, before the court discharged the case, and they took me to another court.”
None of the parties involved in this case have responded to the authenticity of the audio or its content.
So far, two more persons have been arrested by the police in Tamale in connection with the stealing of various sums of money from Ms Dapaah’s home. The case has been adjourned to August 8, 2023, as the court continues its proceedings to determine the fate of the accused individuals.
A transcript of the leaked tape;
On Tuesday, the woman called me and my guy to come to her house. So when we went to the house, as for me, I know that we are going to beg her, because, you said that your money and I have come to put your money down.
So Why? So we are going to beg her. When we went there, the woman poured hot water, pepper and used that wooden spoon they use to cook (banku ta) to beat me. And later on she took me to the police station, and they arrested me again.
And I was in the cells for about 2 weeks, and they took me to court. When they took me to court and court also gave me remand two weeks. I was in remand [for] about one month, before the court discharged the case, and they took me to another court.
I took some of the money and went to Tamale, so when I was in Tamale, she called me back again to come. When I came, she gave me $1.8m, that I should take. After my guy asked me where did I get the money, but I did not answer him. I said one of the people I am working with gave me the money.
And he said okay, he wanted to buy a car in Accra here, so I should give the money to him to buy a car. And okay, I gave the money to him to go and buy the car. When he went to buy the car, about 3 weeks [later], they came to arrest me in Tamale. When they came to arrest me, I was pregnant. It was one week.
All the money, the lady gave me, I have given all to them. Including the house. And the house too, I gave the money to a girl to buy for me, and then it is not my name on the papers, I don’t know why, and I am not seeing the lady too. I don’t know where she is now.
Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah Yeboah has stated that the Attorney General’s office was not furnished with the full details surrounding the missing cash from the home of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, by the Police Service.
A recent report by JoyNews has shed light on new documents indicating a comprehensive investigation conducted by the police in 2022. This investigation led to the filing of various charges both in the Juvenile Court and the Circuit Court.
According to these documents, on October 4, 2022, Cecilia Dapaah issued a warning to a member of her domestic staff, cautioning them against accessing specific rooms within the residence during their employment.
Despite this warning, on October 6, 2022, the staff member breached these instructions and was apprehended by Dapaah’s husband, Daniel Kuffuor.
Subsequently, Kuffuor reported the incident to the Tesano Police Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit, initiating an official complaint.
Upon Dapaah’s return on October 10, she conducted an inventory to identify the missing items from her room. The items included Kente cloth, women’s clothing, jewelry, and an undisclosed sum of money.
Subsequently, the police gathered a statement from the young suspect and proceeded to file appropriate charges. Later, on October 26, 2022, the suspect was presented before the Circuit Court. However, due to inconsistencies in determining her age, she was released and subsequently re-apprehended, with fresh charges being pressed in the Juvenile Court.
In spite of the initial charges being relatively minor, such as unlawful entry and entering premises for unlawful purposes, the suspect faced more serious accusations including the theft of unspecified funds, as per the documented list of missing items.
Curiously, the obtained documents did not make reference to the alleged theft of 1 million dollars, suits, and other sums in Ghana cedis. These allegations came to light in court filings against the same suspect and four accomplices in July 2023, all related to the original theft that took place in October 2022.
According to Mr Alfred Tuah Yeboah, the situation raises concerns about why the police did not include the case’s full details.
“The docket that was submitted to us had nothing about a case pending in any juvenile court. The only hint that we had was about the report at the Tesano Police Station. And so in terms of any prosecution going on at the Juvenile or Circuit Court (previously) we are not aware,” he stated on JoyNews’ News File programme.
Former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, predicament in the ongoing saga of missing funds from her Ablekuma residence in Accra, appears to be deepening with each passing day.
The most recent development in her troubles involves an alleged formal complaint lodged with several United States government bodies, urging them to initiate an inquiry into suspected money laundering activities.
The complaint specifically concerns the sum of US$1 million, a portion of the overall funds purportedly stolen from her private residence by domestic staff.
The individual behind these petitions, one Grace Loki, indicated that her actions were motivated by a lack of confidence in the Ghanaian governmental and institutional apparatus to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
“Not just the FBI alone; I’ve written to the FBI, the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, the DEA and just about every US government institution interested in issues of money laundering and the main reason is that I don’t have any confidence that Nana Addo will use ways and means to ensure the woman gets away with the issue.
“Whatever it takes, Nana Addo will make sure the woman walks away, we have seen some before even under the NDC.
During an interview on OBGhPage via Facebook Live, she declared, ““I will make sure that if she has any property in the US, she is investigated by IRS and made to pay taxes. We all pay taxes here in America and even when we send money back to Ghana to invest, we are required by law to file taxes to the American government. We are supposed to file taxes after declaring profits, I don’t know if Cecilia Dapaah has paid the required taxes on the dollars that was stolen by the workers. But everyone is supposed to pay taxes on their dollars even if she won a lottery.”
The controversy surrounding Madam Dapaah stems from recent reports detailing allegations against certain domestic workers of the former minister, who are being accused of pilfering amounts totaling US$1 million, €300,000, and GH¢350,000.
Furthermore, Ms. Dapaah and her spouse are reported to have incurred substantial material losses, encompassing garments valued at GH¢95,000, handbags amounting to US$35,000, an assortment of perfumes worth US$1,400, assorted jewelry valued at US$95,000, and GH¢95,000 worth of assorted Kente fabric.
Amidst fervent public criticism and concerns over corruption and money laundering in connection with the substantial sums within the ex-minister’s abode, Paul Adom-Otchere, the Host of “Good Evening Ghana” on Metro TV, had endeavored to provide an explanation for the origins of the funds.
Ace journalist Adom-Otchere on his Good Evening Ghana show on Metro TV explained elucidated that approximately $800,000 of the pilfered $1 million was the property of a late sibling of the former minister, Nana Akwasi Essan II.
Grace Loki, a resident of Bantama in Kumasi, the hometown of Madam Dapaah and her family, found Adom-Otchere’s narrative implausible concerning the late brother’s substantial wealth.
“All I am saying is that the money Paul Adom-Otchere is saying belongs to the deceased brother of Cecilia Dapaah which specifically is Nana Kwaku Nantwi who was a shoemaker; although I am not in his pocket to be able to determine his net worth, what I know is that I met him at Santasi Roundabout where he was broke, had run out of fuel and I had to buy fuel to fill his car. That incident is quite recent, not more than two years ago.
“So if he had $800,000 which he had given to his sister to keep I would think of him as very useless. He is my friend, so I feel pained that he is being dragged into all of this especially because he is even no more,” she said.
In the wake of the recent controversy, Cecilia Dapaah tendered her resignation from her position, citing her desire to eliminate any distractions from governmental affairs.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, which has received a range of petitions against her, took her into custody on charges related to corruption. Following a search at her residence, she was granted bail.
Meanwhile, Irene Kensah, the spouse of the late brother of the former minister, disclosed her ignorance of her husband’s substantial financial holdings prior to his demise.
Notwithstanding, she has directed her legal representatives to initiate the necessary legal procedures aimed at recovering the funds as a component of her entitlement to her late husband’s assets.
A private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has brought to light some revelations concerning the ongoing controversy involving the former Minister of Sanitation and Housing, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, regarding an alleged theft of $1 million, 800,000 euros, and an undisclosed amount in cedis.
During an appearance on TV3’s Key Point program, Martin Kpebu disclosed that he possesses certain information about the case that contradicts the statement made by the Attorney-General.
According to Kpebu, the Attorney-General’s assertion that the police made a mistake by attributing the entire $1 million to Cecilia Dapaah on the charge sheet is not accurate. He claimed that the documents he has access to support the police’s statement, and furthermore, Cecilia Dapaah reported the case last year.
Kpebu mentioned that despite repeated advice from her lawyers to withdraw the case, Cecilia Dapaah persisted with it, fearing potential repercussions if the matter were to become public.
“Theoretically, the police can make a mistake because we all make mistake. It is no brainer that the police can make a mistake but I don’t believe that it was a mistake. I don’t buy it because I happened to understand a few more of the facts which are not in the public domain,” he said.
“Madam Dapaah had been crying about this money. This money went to a certain court last year and madam Dapaah came to testify, crying about the money. She was crying that there was money in this bag and that bag. Lawyers advised Madam Dapaah to leave this matter. They told her that be careful because it could lead you into some trouble,” he added.
“She kept indicating that it was about money but the court kept saying that madam you’ve not brought a case of money to this court. This is not a mistake. Wait for the OSP. After the search they found something significant. What I know is no consistent with what the A-G is saying. Madam Dapaah was crying about this money last year,” he said.
What the A-G said
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice has provided legal guidance to the police concerning the theft case involving former sanitation minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
Following the initial hearing of the case on July 20, the police reached out to the A-G’s office, seeking advice on how to proceed with the matter.
In a comprehensive nine-page advice obtained by GhanaWeb, Deputy A-G Alfred Tuah-Yeboah outlined the series of events leading to the alleged theft of funds, as reported by the former minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffuor – the complainants.
The advice critically examined the police docket and the charges brought against the five individuals accused in the case.
It emphasized the need for further investigations into the exact amount of money involved. Additionally, it recommended the separation of some charges and, in certain instances, the complete dismissal of charges against specific accused individuals. For one accused person, the A-G urged the dismissal of all charges brought against them.
Former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, is facing more trouble as her late brother’s widow has filed a lawsuit against her to recover an alleged $800,000, which she claims belonged to her late husband.
The controversy arose after NPP propaganda journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere, defended the Minister, stating that out of the alleged $1 million stolen by her housemaids, $800,000 actually belonged to Cecilia Dapaah’s late brother, Nana Akwasi Essan II, a former Asante chief who passed away in 2022.
Adom-Otchere argued that the public’s outrage over the missing money was misplaced, as only $200,000 of the stolen amount belonged to Cecilia Dapaah herself. He further clarified that the additional missing 300,000 euros did not belong to the Minister but to her husband.
However, in a new development, the late Nana Akwasi Essan II’s wife has come forward, expressing her ignorance of any substantial sum of money belonging to her late husband being in Cecilia Dapaah’s possession.
As a result, she has initiated legal proceedings to recover the money, stating that her late husband’s property must be rightfully returned to her and their children in accordance with Ghanaian laws.
Founder of the All People’s Congress (APC),Hassan Ayariga, has shed new light on the investigation surrounding former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
The case gained public attention when news surfaced that Cecilia Dapaah had taken two of her former house helps to court for allegedly stealing substantial amounts of money from her home, including $1 million.
Speaking with Kofi Adomaa on Kofi TV, Hassan Ayariga expressed that like many Ghanaians, he was initially angered by the news until he took the time to thoroughly understand the situation. During his investigation, he obtained close-source information that revealed many people were too quick to pass judgment on the former minister.
He clarified that not all the money stolen from Cecilia Dapaah and her husband’s residence in Abelemkpe actually belonged to her.
“I’m told that the money was $1 million, 300,000, and GH¢250,000, and through my investigations, what I heard was that their brother, who is a king died. All his estates were then valued at $800,000, and this is not from Paul Adom-Otchere. It is from a different and very intimate source… I am telling you from the right source that I have done my own investigations because when I speak, I want to come out with the truth.
“So, the $800,00, his gold watches, kente cloths and others were for the chief and so they took all of them and threw them inside a box so that when they were done with the funeral, the family would sit down and look at how they shared the money. They also started asking for monies for the funeral and got GH¢250,000; so that was the contribution for them to do the funeral,” he explained.
Hassan Ayariga provided further explanation, stating that the valuable items were stored in a separate room within the house, and Cecilia Dapaah and her husband believed it to be secure. Unbeknownst to them, the domestic workers had secretly made a duplicate key to that room.
Due to this, the couple had no suspicions, and they didn’t realize that their money was gradually disappearing because they assumed it was safely stored away from everyone’s reach.
The illicit activities of the house helps came to light when one day, the man of the house unexpectedly walked in on one of the girls, revealing their wrongdoings.
“So, they put all these things in a box, locked it and out it in a different room from where they sleep. While this was their room, they had the key in the bedroom they sleep in but then the house girls cut a key to the room, and would go to the room with the package. So they themselves didn’t know the money was stolen until the husband got home one day.
“When he got home, he realised that there were lights in the locked room when there shouldn’t have been. So, he went inside and went found the girl hiding behind the bed. And before that, he noticed that the key in the door was not his and that it was a strange key. When he caught her, he then called the police,” he narrated.
Hassan Ayariga further revealed that after the girl was caught in the act, she and her boyfriend were later apprehended in Tamale. This happened after the girl had been granted bail.
He explained that the reason for their arrest was due to their disturbance of public peace while driving a car with excessively loud music.
Presiding judge in the case of huge sums of stolen monies from the residence of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, is demanding the presence of the two main suspects and the others before the court.
On Tuesday, August 2, 2023, during the court session, Mrs Appiah, the presiding judge, issued this order when the case was called, but the two domestic workers and other suspects arrested in connection with it failed to appear.
According to a report by The Chronicle, the police prosecution, led by DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye, stated that the accused persons could not appear in court because the investigators responsible for bringing them had been assigned to conduct additional investigations in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital.
He also explained that the prosecution had so far made significant progress in the case, having also made two more arrests.
The prosecution was however tight-lipped on further details on who the two new suspects are.
He, however, said that there would be seven people standing trial in the case when it resumes sitting.
The judge, Mrs Appiah, ordered that the prosecution ensures that all the suspects appear during its next sitting on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
The judge also declined bail applications filed by counsel for one of the former domestic workers, Patience Botwe, and her father, Kweku Botwe.
The report also added that Benjamin Sowah and Malik Dauda, all alleged lovers of Patience, were yet to have legal representation.
The police have been instructed to expand their investigation into money laundering and financial crimes involving the domestic workers of former sanitation minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The Attorney-General’s Office, in its legal counsel to the police, emphasized the importance of including the former minister and her husband in the investigation to determine the origin of the funds they claimed were stolen from their residence last year.
In a nine-page advisory dated July 31, 2023, and forwarded to the Director of Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Attorney-General requested a thorough investigation into the ownership and source of the funds reported as stolen, amounting to US$200,000 and 300,000 euros.
The office recounted the sequence of events leading to the theft of monies as reported by the former minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffuor – the complainants.
It also analyzed the docket as prepared by the police and the charges proffered against the five accused persons calling generally for further investigations into the issue of the amount of monies discovered.
The A-G ordered a decoupling of and in some instances total dropping of some charges brought against some of the accused. In the case of one accused person, the A-G asked that all charges brought against him be dismissed.
The concluding part of the A-G’s advice read: “We note that you are investigating the acquisition of various properties by the 1st and 2nd accused persons, which investigations border on money laundering.
“The advice rendered above implies that you should broaden the investigations on money laundering and other financial crimes to cover the complainants in order to establish the matters raised above. This is in light of the huge volumes of cash reported by the complainants to have been stolen from their home.
“It is also noted that Cecilia Abena Dapaah until recently was a high level public official whilst her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffuor, in his statement to the Police, indicated his profession as an architect.
“Your investigation into these matters is required to enable the Attorney-General take a comprehensive decision on the case.
“We advise that you comply with the directives on further investigations in this advice and submit the outcome of your investigations to this office.”
Two more suspects have been apprehended in the ongoing investigation into the stolen funds from the residence of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, as per Police prosecutor, DSP Emmanuel Nyamekye.
Initially, five individuals, including two househelps of the former Minister, were arrested for allegedly stealing One million dollars, 300,000 euros, and valuable personal effects worth thousands of Ghana Cedis.
However, these accused persons were not present in court as investigators were conducting further inquiries in Tamale related to the case.
Now, with the recent arrest of the two additional suspects, the total number of accused individuals in the case has reached seven.
One of the accused, Sarah Agyei, who is the second accused, was granted bail last week but has not yet met the bail conditions.
As for the remaining six accused, including the newly arrested individuals, they have been remanded into police custody.
The court has adjourned the case to August 8 to allow for ongoing investigations and to address the bail situation of the second accused, Sarah Agyei.
However, the lawyer representing Augustine Gyamfi, the second accused, expressed frustration over alleged attempts by the Police to hinder their efforts in meeting the bail conditions.
During the court proceedings on Wednesday, police prosecutors failed to present the accused persons, citing the unavailability of the policeman responsible for their presentation, as he had traveled.
Furthermore, they informed the court that the Attorney General’s office has fully taken over the case and will assume the prosecution of the matter.
Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, has characterized the recent times as challenging for every politician in Ghana.
He made these remarks in response to reports of stolen funds found in the home of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
According to Kumah, fear has become a prevailing sentiment among all appointees in President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government.
“Our lives are in danger but the good thing is that we are given police protection. The idea and perception people have about us is now scary and it will be difficult for people to accept public offices in years to come,” he said.
He mentioned that while they are provided with police protection, the perception people hold about politicians has become frightening, making it increasingly difficult for individuals to accept public office in the future.
During an interview with the media, Kumah expressed concern about the negative image politicians are facing, leading to growing apathy within the system.
He emphasized that not all politicians keep large sums of money in their homes, and the current situation poses dangers for them collectively.
Kumah urged caution and called on the media to reshape discussions on the matter, highlighting the potential problems that could arise from exaggerations.
The case originated from a report of theft filed by the former Minister and her husband, Daniel Osei-Kuffour, which prompted police investigations and subsequent arrests.
Stolen items were recovered, and the investigation docket was submitted to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice for review and guidance.
On July 24, 2023, the OSP (Office of the Special Prosecutor) took action by arresting Madam Dapaah for questioning following over 200 petitions received, urging an investigation into her.
Searches at her residences in Ablemkpe and Cantonments revealed allegedly stolen amounts totaling US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis, which were reported to have been taken by her housekeepers between July and October 2022.
Multi-talented Ghanaian celebrity, John Dumelo, has expressed his determination to lessen Ghana’s dependence on onion and tomato imports.
As a vocal advocate for promoting local agriculture, Dumelo envisions achieving this objective with a fraction of the $1 million allegedly misappropriated from former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah.
The renowned actor, farmer, and politician plans to utilize the funds to expand his onion and tomato farm while investing in cutting-edge irrigation techniques and high-yielding seeds.
His vision is to bolster local vegetable production significantly, thereby decreasing the country’s reliance on imports from neighboring nations.
Former Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Adomako Baafi, has urged the party’s communicators to adopt a conciliatory approach when addressing the Cecilia Dapaah matter.
Adomako Baafi stressed that supporting the embattled former sanitation minister would not serve the party’s interests and might negatively impact the NPP‘s reputation.
During an interview with Wontumi TV on July 31, 2023, he acknowledged the gravity of the situation and emphasized that the current controversy surrounding the former minister is an unfavorable narrative for the party.
He mentioned that although there is no definitive evidence of wrongdoing on Cecilia Dapaah’s part, the party communicators should avoid being defensive in their responses to the allegations and instead adopt an apologetic position.
“The NPP communicators, I will commend them, we should not be on the defensive, we should rather sound apologetic because it is not a good story even though we don’t have any basis that the woman has taken the nation’s money, for that aspect, the law will deal with it.
“It is painful, she is our mother and sister who has come to serve the nation, for us we had wished this did not happen, but for us as humans we are surrounded by problems, but that doesn’t mean we should betray her and at the same time that, it doesn’t mean we should defend what is indefensible.”
Cecilia Dapaah has since July 22 resigned her ministerial position and has been arrested and released on bail by the Special Prosecutor after a search was conducted at her residence.
Meanwhile, police have submitted the docket of the case of theft as reported by the minister and her husband to the Attorney-General for advice.
However, some relatives of the former minister have also been questioned about the stolen monies from her Abelemkpe residence which led to her resignation from office and the current probe by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has stated that it would have better approach for the Police to consult the Attorney General before investigating Madam Cecilia Dapaah over her ‘stolen’ funds from her home.
He emphasized that considering the nature of the case, the complaint, the substantial amount of money involved, and the high level of public interest, seeking the Attorney General’s input would have been prudent.
During a discussion on the topic, “CECE DAPAAH $1M: Lifestyle Audit, Money Laundering, Code of Conduct Bill,” on an Accra-based television station, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah expressed his opinion.
He clarified that although the Police had the authority to conduct investigations, involving the Attorney General in the process could have been beneficial in handling the matter more effectively.
“The AG has exclusive authority by the constitution to initiate all criminal prosecutions on behalf of the republic. However, He is not able to prosecute all the cases and in view of that various entities or bodies have been given the permission to prosecute cases on its behalf and one of such institutions is the Police.”
“The AG office does not investigate cases-that lie with the Police and other security bodies so in the event that a complaint is lodged with the Police, they would have to investigate and after that go to court and prosecute on behalf of the AG,” he said.
He said the AG’s request for the case docket would not interfere with the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Mr. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah highlighted that upon reviewing the docket, the Attorney General (AG) could provide valuable advice on the charges related to the case. The AG’s guidance might recommend maintaining, dropping, or amending the charges.
This means that the charges could either stay as they are, be removed, or modified, potentially leading to an increase or decrease in their severity. Additionally, the AG might suggest new charges if relevant evidence supports it.
Furthermore, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah pointed out that the AG could advise the Police to conduct further investigations in areas that may have been overlooked during the initial inquiry. This way, any crucial information or evidence that was missed could be properly addressed to ensure a more comprehensive and accurate investigation.
“The OSP Act allows the OSP to investigate corruption related matters, procurement, lifestyle audit, etc. We are rather looking at stealing, dishonestly receiving, conspiracy amongst others. So, there is no attempt whatsoever to be in conflict with the work of the OSP,” he said.
“Officers at the AG are still reviewing the docket and afterwards, any one of these options may be activated. Possibly, within about a week or two, the AG would issue a letter to give advice on what should be done,” he said.
In a recent statement, former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has accused his successor, Kissi Agyebeng, of violating the constitutional rights of the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
Amidu expressed his concern over the public announcement of the arrest and subsequent search of the former Minister’s residence, stating that it eroded her presumption of innocence and fueled perceptions of guilt without proper investigation into specified corruption charges.
Amidu highlighted that law enforcement should not be influenced by public hysteria and emotions before establishing prima facie evidence through a thorough investigation.
“Populism has no place in law enforcement. Law enforcement is a serious and impartial business as it deals with upholding the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens suspected of the commission of crime during investigation.
“Firstly, it is unethical to deploy law enforcement in aid of public hysteria and emotions before the establishment of prima facie evidence pursuant to an investigation.
“Secondly, there is no offence known under Section 79 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) as corruption and corruption-related offences,” he stressed.
He further emphasized that the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act does not recognize any offence named “corruption and corruption-related offences” under Section 79.
“The integrity of the OSP is clearly at stake if the presumption of innocence guaranteed the citizen is to be protected,“ he added.
The controversy arose from a press release issued by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, stating that the former Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, had been arrested in connection with corruption and corruption-related offences.
Martin Amidu criticized this move as populist and unethical, asserting that it contributed to the public perception of the Minister’s unexplained wealth.
Amidu advised Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s legal team to closely examine and challenge the authority of the Special Prosecutor to conduct arrests, interrogations, and searches of residences.
He also called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate the alleged leakage of information from the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which could be a breach of confidentiality under Section 74 of Act 959.
“The Ghana Police Service should as a matter of urgency and fairness investigate the sources of the alleged leakages as mandated by Section 74 of Act 959 as the Special Prosecutor will have to be the subject of this investigation himself to establish which authorized officers committed the offences. The Police cybersecurity department is capable of tracing the sources of the video and other publications on social media.
“It is important that the OSP, which I had the distinguished honour to establish and operationalise, does not leak like a sieve during investigations – whether lawful or unlawful investigations. It was for these reasons that I questioned the unconstitutional appointments of known politically partisan friends of the Special Prosecutor to the OSP these unconstitutional appointments have not been redressed by the Government that is now reaping the distasteful results.
The case in question involves two house helps of Cecilia Dapaah and her husband facing charges for allegedly stealing money and valuable items worth millions of cedis from their residence.
Additional individuals, including boyfriends and the father of one of the accused, are also facing charges for dishonestly receiving stolen property.
The situation has drawn significant attention and debate, prompting Martin Amidu to emphasize the importance of upholding the presumption of innocence and protecting citizens’ fundamental rights during investigations.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been encouraged by the member of parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzrah, to swiftly solve the mystery surrounding the stash of cash that is allegedly missing from the residence of the former sanitation minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
According to him, the results of the investigations will determine whether or not the fourth republic of Ghana may once again have hope. As a result, the OSP must treat the matter with some seriousness and priority.
“We are hopeful that the Special Prosecutor would diligently investigate the matter with the urgency required while using appropriate laws to exact some sanity.
In a statement reported by Myjoyonline.com, Mr. Bedzrah, the Chairman of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC), highlighted the significance of the investigation’s outcome in restoring the tarnished image of African politicians and renewing hope in our fourth republic as a nation.
Despite initial disbelief, Mr. Bedzrah confirmed that the Special Prosecutor’s preliminary inquiries substantiated the news. An undisclosed amount of cash was discovered at Madam Dapaah’s residence, implicating the embattled Minister in hoarding substantial sums of both local and foreign currencies. This revelation has had a damaging impact on the perception of Africa’s political class.
“We at the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) are equally shocked at the sad development. We are however delighted with the swift action by the Special Prosecutor to arrest and investigate the former minister. We commend the Special Prosecutor and urge him and his team of investigators to work hard and unravel the mystery behind the stockpile of cash at Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s home”, he said.
Mr. Bedzrah further indicated that “Ghana as a country has witnessed a decline on the global Corruption Perception Index for some time now, and one would have thought that our actions as politicians would have been geared towards reversing the downward trend.
Unfortunately, citizens are being fed with the realities of corrupt practices and unbridled greed by the ruling class on daily basis. The current exposure only worsens public perception of politically exposed persons relative to corruption.”
Therefore, he urged the citizens to extend their support to the OSP through providing information and offering prayers during its investigation into the origin of the cash and the decision to keep such substantial sums of money at home, among other matters.
The OSP has already assured Ghanaians that it will keep them updated on the progress of its inquiries into the scandal. As part of their investigative measures, the OSP detained Madam Dapaah and conducted searches at two residential properties connected to her.
The investigation was triggered when news spread about her two house-helps facing court appearances for allegedly stealing $1 million, 300,000 Euros, millions of Ghanaian cedis, and other personal belongings from Madam Dapaah and her husband’s residence. Consequently, the Special Prosecutor took action to probe the former minister.
Following her resignation from her ministerial role, Madam Dapaah was subsequently arrested, and searches were conducted at her two homes before she was eventually granted bail.
A law lecturer, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has said that in the investigation of the significant amount of cash stolen from the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s bedroom, it is not necessary for the police to know whether the money came from her deceased relatives or funeral donations.
Their primary duty was to probe the alleged crime of theft and not the origin of the money taken.
Dr. Srem-Sai explained that as the money was found in the possession of the Minister, it was reasonable for the police to infer that she was the owner of the money at that particular time.
He emphasized that the police acted appropriately by disclosing the information about the stolen money without delving into how the Minister might have acquired such a substantial amount.
“Now as to whether what she is saying – that the money has been transferred or transmitted to her – that will not even matter in the job of the police; what they are doing.
“It won’t matter because the police are not investigating the source of the funding. At this point, what the police are doing is to say that, “look someone owns a property and another person takes it. It’s stealing.”
Let’s avoid any confusion. Currently, the police are focused on investigating theft allegations involving several individuals. They are not concerned with the source of the money in question, as their primary objective is to resolve the theft cases.
“So there is nothing wrong with what the police have put on record. As far as they are concerned, the money was lawfully in the possession of her. There she is the owner at the time,” Dr Srem-Sai explained on Joy FM’s Newsfile programme Saturday, July 29, 2023.
The embattled former Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, raised concerns about the police releasing information with “noticeable inconsistencies” regarding the amount of cash involved in the case. However, she has not provided her own account of the exact amount lost. In this situation, Dr. Srem-Sai has asserted that the police cannot be blamed for any discrepancies since they were not provided with an accurate figure from the complainant.
During an event held to honor the 11th anniversary of the passing of John Evans Atta Mills, John Dramani Mahama spoke in glowing terms about his late boss.
He highlighted Mills’ remarkable integrity, humility, and modesty, emphasizing the values that Mills passionately upheld.
In his address to the gathering commemorating the June 24th anniversary of Mills’ passing, Mahama cited examples of significant sums of money kept at home to illustrate just how humble and unassuming Mills was.
“Atta Mills was a man of integrity and all of us can vouch for his integrity, he was a modest man and didn’t need millions of dollars in his house to survive,” he stated to laughter in the crowd.
The topic of a million dollars has been widely discussed in the past two weeks due to a reported incident of theft at the home of a minister.
The former sanitation minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, informed the police that she had lost a significant amount of money, including one million dollars, 300,000 euros, and 350,000 Ghana cedis, allegedly stolen by housemaids.
The two housemaids involved in the theft were apprehended by the police, and they, along with three others who were suspected to be beneficiaries of the stolen money, are facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court.
In the wake of this incident, the minister decided to resign from her ministerial position. She was subsequently arrested but later released on bail by the Special Prosecutor.
The police have completed their investigation and submitted the case docket, which includes details of the reported theft by the minister and her husband, to the Attorney-General for further advice.
Former Central Regional Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs, says the controversary surrounding former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, over missing cash from her home, has dealt a big blow to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Allotey Jacobs argues that the former minister has easily handed over the NPP to the NDC to be devoured due to her decision to take the issue of her missing funds to the police.
According to him, she should have thought twice of being the complainant in the case currently before the court as she is a leading member of the NPP.
He also cited the current economic crisis exacerbated by the ruling government as another reason Madam Dapaah should have made her husband, Daniel Osei-Kufuor, a sole complainant in the case and not a co-complainant.
“It is the fault of Cecilia Dapaah herself. For me, I won’t be nice to her. This is a collateral damage to the NPP. She is a leading member of the party once she is a cabinet Minister.
“A situation like this, she might be rich, I don’t know her background, but not this situation. You go and report to the police. She should have let her husband lodge the complain that my house helps stole from me, not you
“You are a politician and you know when these things come out, knowing currently what is happening in the country, then the opposition has vowed that whatever means it will take propaganda to win, then you give them the knife to stab your party at the back,” he said in an interview on Peace FM Kokroko Show with Kwame Sefa Kayi on Friday, July 28.
He likened the current situation of Madam Cecilia Dapaah to the Woyome case in 2015\2016 where the NDC government was trolled by the NPP, who then was in opposition.
“This is a collateral damage and opposition has taken up because of what happened in 2015 and 2016. It came to a point that Woyeme, Woyeme, gargantuan “mon ky3 nni” to wit “loot and share”.
That same music is being played back to you in another form,” he stated.
Woyome saga
Businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome was paid GH¢51 million for helping Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.
The Auditor-General’s report released in 2010 said the amount was paid illegally to him.
The report resulted in nationwide controversy, with operatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were in government during the CAN 2008 tournament claiming Woyome did no work to be paid that whopping sum of money.
The then Attorney-General, Joe Ghartey, said Woyome was contracted to help in raising money for the construction of the stadia but he failed to meet the deadline.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered that properties belonging to Alfred Agbesi Woyome in the controversial GH¢51 million judgment debt paid to him to be sold.
Cecilia Dapaah robbed?
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are reported to have been robbed by two of their house helps in their home in Abelemkpe, Accra.
The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei are said to have undertaken their operation between July and October 2022.
At an Accra Circuit Court, Patience and Sarah are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which include amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
Clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000 were reportedly stolen as well.
Three other individuals have also been charged in connection with the theft being investigated.
29-year-old plumber, Benjamin, is accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, whereas Kweku Botwe, a 65-year-old trader, has been charged for dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000.
The third, Malik Dauda, 23, who is unemployed, is said to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.
It is alleged that the accused used the stolen funds to finance various properties and purchases, including renting a 3-bedroom apartment and a store in Tamale, buying vehicles, and funding other personal expenses.
In court on Thursday, July 20, Judge Susana Ekuful granted Sarah bail in the amount of GH¢1 million with two sureties.
The court has adjourned the case to August 2, 2023.
Consequence of theft case
Cecilia Abena Dapaah on July 23, 2023, resigned from her position following pressure from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament after it was revealed that she had lost millions of dollars and cedis in her home.
On July 24, 2023, she was arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over suspicions of corruption and corruption-related offences, revolving around the alleged theft of significant amounts of money and valuable items from her residence in Accra.
She has been granted bail and the OSP is still investigating the matter.
In June 2022, a prominent sports news outlet in the UK, The Athletic, reported on the arrest of a Premier League star who was accused of rape.
The player’s identity, club affiliation, and nationality were not disclosed in the publication, but they provided hints about the individual’s profile.
The player was described as a 29-year-old international footballer who was set to represent his country in the2022 World Cup.
Additionally, it was revealed that the accused footballer resided in Barnet, London.
The news report and other UK media sources refrained from directly mentioning the player’s name or any direct links to the rape allegations.
However, on July 25, 2023, broadcaster Paul Adom-Otchere revealed that the footballer in question is Thomas Partey, a Ghanaian player.
According to Paul Adom-Otchere, it was suggested that Thomas Partey himself informed some Ghanaians about his alleged involvement in the rape scandal, which has been a major topic in the Premier League news cycle since it first broke in June 2022.
The player’s bail term was extended to August, further prolonging the ongoing investigation and media attention on the case.
“Recently our hero Thomas Partey had a problem with the British police. Did you see how scanty the information was? All of us were looking for the person but the British police will not tell anyone.
“All we heard were rumors and Partey himself telling some Ghanaians. That is how we got to know.
Paul Adom-Otchere expressed his dissatisfaction with the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s handling of the arrest of former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
To highlight his point, Adom-Otchere referred to an alleged incident involving Thomas Partey, drawing a comparison between how the Metropolitan Police of London, UK, handled the situation and how Kissi Agyebeng and his team handled it publicly in Ghana.
As a devoted Manchester United and Asante Kotoko fan, Adom-Otchere likened the conduct of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to Andre Dede Ayew’s actions during Ghana’s game against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in March 2023.
“Special prosecutor, we love you but you are not Dede Ayew. You aren’t the captain of the Black Stars. You are not Black Sherrif, Shatta Wale, Piesie Esther, DKB, Delay or Afia Schwarzenegger.
“You are the distinguished Special Prosecutor, a barrister at law and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
“Don’t be arresting people with funfair. It shouldn’t be live on radio and you shouldn’t be tweeting about it. If you are going to arrest people then you call media to follow you. We don’t want to see how you do your work just deliver to the nation. You are stigmatizing the people,” he fumed on his show.
Founder and General Overseer of Life Assembly Worship Centre, Reverend Christian Kwabena Andrews, popularly known as Osofo Kyiri Abosom, has announced his intention to take drastic measures against former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, over monies spent on distilling the Odaw River in the Greater Accra Region.
In an interview on Kingdom FM, Osofo Kyiri Abosom indicated that he would put the former Sanitation Minister behind bars should he be elected president.
According to him, it is unacceptable for the former Minister to spend huge sums of money on what he describes at little work done.
“If God doesn’t not take her away and I become President, I will prosecute her. How can you tell me you used 43 million dollars for such a thing,” he said.
On 23rd February 2021, Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah answered questions on the funds Ghana received from the World Bank to support the Greater Accra and Integrated Development initiative.
In Parliament, an MP asked the Minister to account for the $570 million provided by the World Bank.
In her response, Mrs Cecilia Dapaah revealed that the Ministry of Sanitation received an amount of $43million from the total figure.
She did not provide a very detailed breakdown of how the money was spent, but however, noted that the money was use to “to cap about five feet around Pantang and then the Odaw Basin.”
She also added that money was spent to “clean up the Odaw Basin to make the channels open for water to flow in.”
For Osofo Kyiri Abosom, the money spent on the project is not worth the work done.
“We gave her 43 million dollars to beautify Accra, then she told us that she used all the funds to distill the Odaw River. Go look at it. It is an eye sore,” he bemoaned.
The Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development project (GARID) is the first in a series of projects designed to build the resilience of the national capital with the intial phase covering a five-year period (2020-2025).
The goal of the project is to improve flood risk and solid waste management in the Odaw River basin of the Greater Accra region and improve access to basic infrastructure and services in the targeted communities within the Odaw River Basin.
Conversations aboutCecilia Dapaah’s million dollar case have given way for some MPs to vent their long-held grievances over insufficient salaries.
Cletus Dapilah, Member of Parliament for Jirapa, revealed in a JoyNews interview on July 26, 2023, that as an MP, he can confidently say he does not even have GH 1000 saved in the bank.
“I don’t even have a GHS1000 at the bank”, Mr Dapilah said.
MPs receive an average of GHS10,000, and according to Mr Dapilah, “most MPs are not very happy with” this situation.
According to Mr Dapilah, most, if not all, MPs are burdened with taking care of their constituents.
According to some MPs, it is commonplace to find a large number of constituents assembled at their gates every morning, either to secure funding for their ward’s education or other financially related matters in that regard.
Hence “the MP’s salary is for everybody. The MP’s salary is not just for the MP. Whatever the MP is paid, it is still for everybody.”
In addition, half of the GHS 10,000 paid to him as salary is spent on fuel in his travels from Jirapa to Accra, and to make matters worse, some of the MPs “don’t even get it because ofthe deductions on loans”.
National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Asiedu Nketiah, has urgently called for a thorough investigation into the homes of all government appointees following allegations of significant funds being stolen from the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
During an interview on Okay FM on July 25, 2023, Asiedu Nketiah expressed his lack of surprise regarding the reported theft of money from Cecilia Dapaah’s private residence. He voiced his belief that the current government and its appointees are engaged in accumulating personal wealth at the expense of deceiving ordinary citizens.
Nketiah expressed deep concern about the prevailing level of corruption within the administration and emphasized the need for swift and decisive action to hold those responsible accountable.
“For Cecilia Dapaah’s case, I am not surprised because we have been saying often times that the aim of this government is to deceive Ghanaians to amass wealth and use the same wealth to stay in power.
“So, they acquire such monies, they always make sure that it is distributed equally to everyone who might have an interest in investigations to silence them, so it is God’s doing that this case has exposed them and because the money was enough, she couldn’t even realize that some have been stolen,” he said.
The NDC National Chairman stressed the need for action once more, saying that the Special Prosecutor should request that all government appointees submit their passports and order a statewide search of their homes if Ghana is sincere about fighting corruption.
He voiced the opinion that the money that would be recovered from such an operation might be greater than the bailout amount Ghana is requesting from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“If we are serious as a country today, the Special Prosecutor would have ordered that all government appointees should submit their passports, ministers and every appointee, then we search everybody, a nationwide swoop to check every minister’s residence.
The amount we receive will be greater than the loan we are receiving from the IMF, in my opinion, because they mismanaged the money and distributed it to us while preaching that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine caused our hardships even though we did not cast our votes for either country.
“…so the monies are in their various houses and rooms, so they have the money but they don’t know where to keep them,” he added.
Since July 22, Cecilia Dapaah has resigned from her job as a minister. Following a search of her home, the Special Prosecutor detained Cecilia Dapaah and granted her bail.
The Attorney-General has been consulted by police over the theft case docket that was reported by the minister and her spouse.
Some of the former minister’s family members have, however, also been questioned regarding the stolen funds from her Abelemkpe home, which prompted her resignation from office and the ongoing investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
General Manager of Citi FM & Citi TV, Bernard Koku Avle, has taken a swipe at President Akufo-Addo over his acceptance letter in response to Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s resignation as Sanitation and Water Resources Minister.
According to Mr Avle, the President appears to have a penchant for acquitting individuals accused of criminal offense while being investigated.
On July 23, 2023, Madam Dapaah announced her resignation owing to her involved in a theft case involving $1 million, €300,000, GH¢350,000, as well as jewellery and other valuables in her home at Akpelemkpe.
According to Madam Cecilia Dapaah, she decided to resign to “prevent this matter from becoming a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time.”
She also assured of her willingness to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts.
Hours letter, the president issued a letter approving Madam Dapaah’s resignation.
In the letter dated July 23, President Akufo-Addo said he was confident that the “integrity” “dear” Madam Dapaah exhibited “whilst in office, will be fully established.
This statement by the President, according to Mr Avle, continues to derail the justice system as individuals being investigated or yet to be investigated are paraded as blameless even before actually probing commences.
“It is not witch-hunting and the presidency should not write to exonerate her,” he said.
He therefore entreated the president from intervening in sensitive matters.
“It’s not in his place. He should let institutions work,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr Avle has called for a probe into the wealth of Madam Cecilia Dapaah and Daniel Osei-Kuffour, her husband.
Currently, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is investigating Madam Dapaah over corruption and corruption-related offenses revolving around the alleged theft of significant amounts of money and valuable items from her residence in Accra.
General Manager of Citi TV and Citi 97.3 FM, Bernard Avle, has chided President Akufo-Addo over his response to the resignation letter of former Sanitation and Water Resource Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
He said the President’s tone in the purported response to the former Minister’s resignation letter was not suitable given the gravity of the situation.
“I’m a bit worried about the speed the purported response from the President seeks to exonerate the Minister and almost pigeonholing her resignation around loyalty to the government and the government image, is that what this is about; that it’s about whether someone’s image is good or bad? What signal are we sending to citizens in terms of profligacy?” he questioned.
He further noted that: “the letter the President wrote purportedly in response to the resignation, I think the tone is not sensitive to the feelings of Ghanaians at all. At least the President could have accepted the letter and said, ‘Well thank you for your service’ [and] the other point is that there hasn’t been any formal process of investigation or anything.”
His comment comes on the back of the resignation of the Sanitation Minister following a theft case involving two househelps of the Minister, and the President’s subsequent response.
Five individuals are facing charges for their alleged involvement in stealing millions of dollars and euros from the minister’s house at Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra.
Following this, she resigned on July 23, 2023, explaining that it was to prevent the matter from becoming a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time.
Despite the assurance of availing herself for investigations, she has come under heavy scrutiny.
Commenting on the development, Mr Avle urged the state to take up this matter and ensure it is thoroughly investigated, and eschew any form of politicisation from the investigations.
“Let’s not politicise it with claims that it will make the government look bad. Already, you [the government] are smelling bad. If we are serious about this let’s not politicise it,” he added.
Many Ghanaians are curious to know the professional life of Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s husband after it emerged that the couple were allegedly robbed of cash included $1 million, €300,000, GH¢350,000, as well as jewellery and other valuables by their housemaids.
On July 25, Ghanaian journalist, Paul Adom-Otchere stated that the missing €300,000 belongs to Madam Dapaah’s husband.
“We are now accounting for €300,000 of Cecilia Dapaah’s husband who says the money is for him. He claims it in the statement to the police,” he said on Good Evening Ghana.
Since news broke of the alleged theft, some Ghanaians registered that the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Dapaah could not have acquired such amount in the capacity as Minister.
Hence, attention was directed towards the former minister’s husband. Some individuals believe that the huge sums of money belong to Madam Dapaah’s as his line of work provides him the opportunity to rake in such figures.
Who is Cecilia Dapaah’s husband?
Octogenarian Daniel Osei-Kuffour is the husband of Cecilia Abena Dapaah. He served as an Ambassador under the Kufuor administration. He started off as a volunteer under Ambassador Nzekele Kitsodi of Zaire in Accra and rose to the powerful position of Secretary to President John Agyekum Kufour (2001–2008).
Most importantly, he is an architect. Per reports, together with a friend, Mr Osei-Kuffour started his architectural firm named Daniel Osei-Kuffour, Sohne and Partners in 1978.
Sources say Daniel Osei-Kuffour is worth at least $5 million.
Here are 6 major projects executed by Daniel Osei-Kuffour, Sohne and Partners
GCB Headquarters, High Street, Accra
He undertook the sketch design, working drawing and supervision.
This cost an amount GHS 8 million.
Embassy premises of the Embassy of the Russian Federation
This project cost an amount of $15 million.
Office building of the Canadian High Commission
The project was worth $600,000
New office of the College of Physicians and Surgeons
The Chief Justice of Ghana, Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo, has urged the nation to uphold justice for all people as a way of attracting God’s grace and blessings.
She warned that without justice and law enforcement, Ghana would face destruction and instability.
She made these remarks at the opening of the 2023 National Development Conference organised by the Church of Pentecost at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh in the Central Region on Monday, 26 July 2023.
The two-day conference, which is on the theme: “Moral vision and national development”, brought together key personalities, stakeholders, bodies and institutions in Ghana to deliberate on critical issues on Ghana’s development.
Among the speakers attending the event were Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin; former President John Agyekum Kufuor; Former Minister of Women’s Affairs of Zimbabwe, Dr Olivia Nyembezi Muchena and Spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu.
Justice Torkornoo stressed that justice is a vital element for peace and stability, and that the quality of life in every nation depended on that. She pointed out that upholding the laws and investing in the building of justice delivery in a nation brings prosperity to its citizens.
“As a nation, we must work towards giving justice to all manner of persons,” she said, adding “there cannot be prosperity without peace and there cannot be peace unless people are assured that their rights will be upheld and they will not be robbed of their entitlement.”
She also spoke on the theme of the conference, saying that the judiciary does not see morality as a personal preference of a person, but as a constitutional mandate that requires the maintenance and enforcement of the highest standards of ethical conduct and the upholding of the innate need of the human soul for justice in a nation.
She said that members of the judiciary have chosen to defend the morality of a person through the power given to them by the Constitution and other government institutions.
She further said that it is her conviction that in Ghana’s diversity of ethnicity, belief systems, vocations and talents, the elements of the laws of Ghana, the rules of equity, and the innate ethical values that flow from good conscience can surely bind our hearts and minds together and assist us to arrive at a nationally accepted vision of morality.
Former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has been embroiled in a controversy over the alleged theft of huge sums of money from her home by her maids. The incident led to her resignation and subsequent arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
According to reports, the stolen cash included $1 million, €300,000, GH¢350,000, as well as jewellery and other valuables. The OSP has also found more cash at two other residences of the former minister in Cantonments and Abelemkpe.
However, some sources have claimed that part of the money belonged to the former minister’s deceased brother, Nana Akwasi Eddan II, who was the Numuahene of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He was a farmer, a contractor and a manufacturer of security boots.
Ghanaian journalist Paul Adom-Otchere revealed on his show ‘Good Evening Ghana’ that $800,000 out of the total amount reportedly stolen was in a box given to Cecilia Dapaah by her mother, Nana Ode Nyarko II (of blessed memory), before she passed away.
He said that Nana Akwasi Eddan II had plans to use the money for construction works but died before he could execute them. His mother then handed over the money to Cecilia Dapaah, who was a minister at the time and had police protection.
“It was delivered in a box. It is the same box stolen that the mother delivered to Cecilia, that your brother has passed. He left me this money for his contractor work. He said he was going to buy land at Bremang and build houses and sell. That is what he told me and that is what this money is for. So can you please take the money and call the other family people,” Adom-Otchere quoted the mother as saying.
He added that some of the family members confirmed the source of the money to the police and wrote statements to that effect.
Meanwhile, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) communications team, Clement Wilkinson, suggested that Cecilia Dapaah might have received donations towards the funeral ceremony of her brother, which took place in April 2022.
“The company which received $43 million dollars to dredge the Odaw river could have given Cecilia Dapaah $2 million dollars in funeral donation. You know until the family meets to look at the entire donation, it would not be touched. It could be the reason the money was at her home,” he said.
The case is still under investigation by the OSP, which has charged five suspects with conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing. The suspects are Patience Botwe (18), Sarah Agyei (30), who are both maids of Cecilia Dapaah, and three others who allegedly benefited from the stolen money.
Metro TV journalist Paul Adom-Otchere, has slammed the Office Of President (OSP) for what he claims is a ‘funfair arrest and unnecessary search’ exhibited by the office meted out to the former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Dapaah.
According to him, the OSP’s modus operandi was far from ideal. He expressed dissatisfaction with the approach used by the OSP, suggesting that it could have been handled better or more effectively.
“ There is a reason why the CID department does not wear police uniforms. The reason is Because an individual is innocent until proven guilty, you don’t want to generate a stigma or a narrative that someone is guilty. So until the person has committed a culpable like an armed robber etc they go in plain clothes so that the individual is not stigmatized. If a special prosecutor goes to arrest in a dramatic fashion and it is live on TV.
“ You have to wait for the court to judge, the OSP cannot say that Cecila Dapaah has stolen the money.
“Old people don’t trust internet banking, the banking laws do not frown on keeping monies at home, the police do not cannot prosecute you for keeping money at home,” he added.
His comments come after the OSP searched the home of the former Minister, in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence.
Mr Adom-Otchere also denied OSP’s discovery of additional money at Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s residence.
“We understand that it is untrue and the OSP must come out and clarify, we tried to search about this and what we have is that it is not true.
“We don’t know why TV3 has been carrying this story since midday. It has no source, neither the Special Prosecutor or his deputy. If TV3 has further and better particulars, they should publish it tomorrow or even tonight.
“Because our sources indicate that the Special Prosecutor has said it is not true,” he added.
On Friday, July 21, 2023 the home of the former minister was reported to have been robbed of US$1 million, €300,000 and other valuables by two of her domestic servants.
According to Madam Dapaah, the reported amounts of money stolen in the media is inconsistent with the original complaint she filed.
She stepped down from her position owing to pressure from National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament 48 hours after it was revealed that she had lost millions of dollars and cedis in her home.
According to Madam Cecilia Dapaah, her decision is to prevent the matter from becoming a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time.
“Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position.”
She also assured of her willingness to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts.
“I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the process, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours,” she added.
A report by TV3 has revealed that more money was found in the home of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former sanitation minister who is under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences. The report claimed that it took officials of the OSP close to five hours to count the amount of cash discovered in her residence.
According to TV3’s reporter Eric Mawuena Egbeta, who cited sources within the OSP, the search at Ms Dapaah’s residence on Monday, 24 July 2023, yielded more cash than what was initially reported. He said it was not clear which of her two residences – her official residence at Cantonments or her private residence at Abelemkpe – had the latest stash.
“From the search at her residence yesterday, a lot more cash has been discovered and it took officials of the Special Prosecutor close to five hours alone in counting this amount of cash which was discovered in her home,” he said in a stand-up piece in front of the offices of the OSP in Accra.
He added that some relatives of the former minister have also been questioned by the OSP about the stolen monies from her Abelemkpe residence which led to her resignation from office and the current probe by the OSP.
The ongoing investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor has revealed more cash was discovered in the home of former sanitation and water resources minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
Ms Dapaah was granted bail on Monday, hours after the OSP announced that she had been arrested and had escorted its officials to conduct searches at her residence. She is accused of hoarding large amounts of foreign currency at her home, which were allegedly stolen by two former house helps.
The court charge sheet dated 20 July 2023 stated that Ms Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, accused the house helps of stealing a cash sum of $1m (£780,000), 300,000 euro (£255,000) and 350,000 Ghana cedis (£45,000), as well as handbags valued at $35,000 (£27,000) and $95,000-worth (£73,000) of jewellery. The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022.
Ms Dapaah disputes the figures given in the court document but the revelations outraged many in Ghana. The country’s currency has been losing value rapidly in recent months, with those in charge of the troubled economy blaming dollar hoarders for the woes of the cedi. It was shocking for many to learn that a government minister may have been holding foreign currency herself.
Ms Dapaah resigned as minister of sanitation and water resources on Saturday, 22 July 2023, in order not to distract from the work of government. She added that she was sure that any investigation would show she had acted with integrity. She had held the post for the last five years.
However, TV3’s report has been contested by pro-government voices including Paul Adom-Otchere of Metro TV who said on his Good Evening Ghana show (25 July 2023) that his checks with the OSP showed that nothing of the sort had been found.
“We understand that it is untrue and the OSP must come out and clarify, we tried to search about this and what we have is that it is not true. We don’t know why TV3 has been carrying this story since midday. It has no source, neither the Special Prosecutor or his deputy. If TV3 has further and better particulars, they should publish it tomorrow or even tonight. Because our sources indicate that the Special Prosecutor has said it is not true,” he said.
It took 5 hours to count more money found in Cecilia Dapaah’s home – Report
A report by TV3 has revealed that more money was found in the home of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former sanitation minister who is under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences. The report claimed that it took officials of the OSP close to five hours to count the amount of cash discovered in her residence.
According to TV3’s reporter Eric Mawuena Egbeta, who cited sources within the OSP, the search at Ms Dapaah’s residence on Monday, 24 July 2023, yielded more cash than what was initially reported. He said it was not clear which of her two residences – her official residence at Cantonments or her private residence at Abelemkpe – had the latest stash.
“From the search at her residence yesterday, a lot more cash has been discovered and it took officials of the Special Prosecutor close to five hours alone in counting this amount of cash which was discovered in her home,” he said in a stand-up piece in front of the offices of the OSP in Accra.
He added that some relatives of the former minister have also been questioned by the OSP about the stolen monies from her Abelemkpe residence which led to her resignation from office and the current probe by the OSP.
Ms Dapaah was granted bail on Monday, hours after the OSP announced that she had been arrested and had escorted its officials to conduct searches at her residence. She is accused of hoarding large amounts of foreign currency at her home, which were allegedly stolen by two former house helps.
The court charge sheet dated 20 July 2023 stated that Ms Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, accused the house helps of stealing a cash sum of $1m (£780,000), 300,000 euro (£255,000) and 350,000 Ghana cedis (£45,000), as well as handbags valued at $35,000 (£27,000) and $95,000-worth (£73,000) of jewellery. The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022.
Ms Dapaah disputes the figures given in the court document but the revelations outraged many in Ghana. The country’s currency has been losing value rapidly in recent months, with those in charge of the troubled economy blaming dollar hoarders for the woes of the cedi. It was shocking for many to learn that a government minister may have been holding foreign currency herself.
Ms Dapaah resigned as minister of sanitation and water resources on Saturday, 22 July 2023, in order not to distract from the work of government. She added that she was sure that any investigation would show she had acted with integrity. She had held the post for the last five years.
However, TV3’s report has been contested by pro-government voices including Paul Adom-Otchere of Metro TV who said on his Good Evening Ghana show (25 July 2023) that his checks with the OSP showed that nothing of the sort had been found.
“We understand that it is untrue and the OSP must come out and clarify, we tried to search about this and what we have is that it is not true. We don’t know why TV3 has been carrying this story since midday. It has no source, neither the Special Prosecutor or his deputy. If TV3 has further and better particulars, they should publish it tomorrow or even tonight. Because our sources indicate that the Special Prosecutor has said it is not true,” he said.
Former sanitation minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned over a theft scandal, had more money hidden at one of her residences, a report by Accra-based TV3 has claimed.
The TV3 news report, citing sources within the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), said it took the officials five hours to count the latest stash of cash that was discovered during a search at her home on Monday, July 24.
“From the search at her residence yesterday (Monday, July 24), a lot more cash has been discovered and it took officials of the Special Prosecutor close to five hours alone in counting this amount of cash which was discovered in her home,” the TV3 reporter Eric Mawuena Egbeta said in a stand-up piece in front of the OSP offices in Accra.
He however did not specify which of her two residences – her official one at Cantonments or her private one at Abelemkpe – had the additional sums of money
The OSP confirmed on Monday that it had arrested and questioned Ms Dapaah for “suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence”.
The ongoing investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor has revealed more cash was discovered in the home of former sanitation and water resources minister, Cecilia Dapaah.
The probe followed a revelation by a court charge sheet that Ms Dapaah and her husband had reported a theft of $1m (£780,000), 300,000 euro ($333,000) and 350,000 Ghana cedis ($30,000), as well as handbags valued at $35,000 and $95,000-worth of jewellery from their Abelemkpe residence last year.
Ms Dapaah has disputed the figures given in the court document but has not disclosed the actual amount that was stolen. She resigned as minister of sanitation and water resources on Saturday, saying she did not want to distract from the work of government. She added that she was sure that any investigation would show she had acted with integrity.
Some relatives of the former minister have also been questioned by the OSP about their involvement in the alleged theft and corruption. The OSP said it had also conducted searches at other premises linked to Ms Dapaah.
The theft case was initially reported to the police in June this year, seven months after it occurred. Two women who worked as domestic workers for the couple were accused of stealing and dissipating some of the stolen money and items. They were arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court last week along with three other individuals who allegedly received some of the money from them.
The TV3 report has been challenged by some pro-government voices, including Paul Adom-Otchere of Metro TV, who said on his Good Evening Ghana show (July 25) that his checks with the OSP showed that nothing of the sort had been found.
“We understand that it is untrue and the OSP must come out and clarify, we tried to search about this and what we have is that it is not true.
“We don’t know why TV3 has been carrying this story since midday. It has no source, neither the Special Prosecutor or his deputy. If TV3 has further and better particulars, they should publish it tomorrow or even tonight.
“Because our sources indicate that the Special Prosecutor has said it is not true,” he added.
The scandal has sparked outrage among many Ghanaians who are struggling with a depreciating currency and a troubled economy. The government has blamed dollar hoarders for the woes of the cedi, while critics have accused it of failing to curb corruption and mismanagement.
The Deputy Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Malik Basintale, has provided more details on the ongoing saga concerning the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
Speaking to the media, Basintale highlighted the overwhelming scale of the reported stolen wealth.
He emphasized that an average worker in Ghana earning GH¢3,000 would need to work for a century to accumulate the reported $1 million supposedly stolen by the former minister.
He further illustrated the magnitude of the stolen funds, stating that even an ordinary lecturer earning GH¢10,000 would have to work for 100 years to amass the stolen dollars and euros.
For a nurse, it would take 333 years of work to reach the $1 million that was found in Cecilia Dapaah’s house. Basintale aimed to provide a perspective on the vast sums involved in the case.
Basintale expressed surprise at some government communicators downplaying the severity of the reported theft.
He pointed out that the charge sheet filed by the victim clearly showed that substantial amounts of money had been stolen, and attempts to minimize the matter were unwarranted.
The former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, has been at the center of public attention in relation to this saga.
She was invited and subsequently arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor on July 24, 2023, after it was reported that her maids had stolen $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis from her. She was later granted bail with a surety.
Going to the police to report a theft at her home must have seemed like the correct thing to do for a government minister in Ghana, but when she was arrested, it backfired horribly.
Cecilia Abena Dapaah had a sizable sum of money stolen, according to a court charge sheet linked to individuals suspected of the theft that was filed last Thursday.
It mentions a “cash sum” of $1 million (£780,000), 300,000 euros ($333,000), and 350,000 Ghana cedis ($30,000), as well as further personal stuff such purses for $35,000 and jewelry worth $95,000.
In her resignation letter, Ms. Dapaah refuted the reports claiming that she and her husband possessed “various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis,” stating that these reports did not accurately represent what they had reported to the police.
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s response to the situation disappointed anti-corruption campaigners, as it seemed to pre-judge the outcome of the ongoing investigations. He expressed confidence that Ms. Dapaah’s integrity during her time in office would ultimately be proven.
Having served as a minister since President Akufo-Addo’s initial election in 2017, Ms. Dapaah held roles in both aviation and, later, water and sanitation. As one of only three women in the president’s cabinet, she was well-known.
Now, her political future remains uncertain as the special prosecutor conducts an investigation to ascertain whether she did indeed possess such substantial amounts of cash in her house and, if so, where the funds originated from.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor, which deals with graft allegations against high-level officials, announced that it had arrested and was questioning Ms Dappah for “suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence”.
Late on Monday evening, she was granted bail following searches conducted at her official and private residences in the capital city, Accra.
The chain of events started with a reported burglary, or potentially a series of burglaries, at the minister’s private residence, where she lives with her husband and daughter.
At the heart of the accusations are two female domestic workers who were employed by the family. One of them is suspected of acting as a lookout, while the other is alleged to have been involved in stealing the cash and other belongings. As for the three other individuals accused in the case, they have not offered any comments on the charges.
According to the “brief facts” of the case attached to the charge sheet, last October Ms. Dapaah’s husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, returned home to “an unusual noise” coming from his bedroom. He then went to investigate and discovered one of the suspects crouching behind the door.
The couple only realized that items were missing after some time had passed, but they waited for seven months before reporting the incident to the police.
The reason for the significant delay remains unclear, but during that time, the accused individuals are alleged to have engaged in an extravagant spending spree.
One of them reportedly purchased a three-bedroom house on the outskirts of Accra, along with various household items such as a double-decker fridge, a television, a washing machine, a chest freezer, a gas cooker, and a water dispenser. Additionally, she allegedly provided money to her boyfriend to buy two cars – a Hyundai Elantra and a Honda Civic.
The couple is also accused of renting another three-bedroom house in a different city, as well as a store room.
The other former employee of Ms. Dapaah is said to have used some of the stolen money to build her own three-bedroom house.
As for the former minister herself, the origin of the funds that supposedly financed this extensive shopping spree remains a mystery.
In her resignation letter, Ms. Dapaah refuted the reports suggesting that she had “various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis,” asserting that they did not accurately represent what she and her husband had reported to the police.
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s response to the situation disappointed anti-corruption campaigners, as it seemed to pre-judge the outcome of the ongoing investigations. He expressed confidence that Ms. Dapaah’s integrity during her time in office would ultimately be established.
Having served as a minister since President Akufo-Addo’s initial election in 2017, Ms. Dapaah held roles in both aviation and, later, water and sanitation. As one of only three women in the president’s cabinet, she was well-known.
Now, her political future remains uncertain as the special prosecutor conducts an investigation to ascertain whether she did indeed possess such substantial amounts of cash in her house and, if so, where the funds originated from.
Some close associates of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, are currently being questioned by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) regarding the stolen money case.
Per reports from JoyNews, these relatives were invited because Madam Dapaah claimed that some of the money belonged to them.
In response to this information, the OSP expanded its investigation to include the mentioned relatives to ascertain the truth.
Madam Dapaah, who had earlier spent time in OSP custody, is now on bail with surety.
The OSP had conducted searches at both her official residence in Cantonments and her private residence in Abelemkpe in connection to the alleged million-dollar cash theft by housekeepers, which ultimately led to her resignation.
During the search at her residence on Monday, significant findings were reportedly made by the investigators, although the details of the discovery have not been disclosed by the OSP.
Madam Dapaah has been requested to complete an income and property declaration form to enable the OSP to track any property she acquired and ascertain if it was obtained illegally.
Media reports have emerged, implicating two housemaids who worked for the Sanitation Minister and her husband at their home, for the theft of substantial sums of money and other items between July and October 2022.
The charges include the alleged theft of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis, as well as various valuables like clothing, handbags, perfumes, jewelry, kente cloth, and suits.
The allegations have resulted in public scrutiny and criticism of Cecilia Dapaah. However, she has contested the reported amounts stolen, citing “noticeable inconsistencies” in the discussions surrounding what she reported to the police.
Amidst the controversy and the ongoing investigations into the “stolen” cash, Cecilia Dapaah resigned from her position as Sanitation Minister in July 2022.
According to JoyNews sources, the search was conducted on Monday at her private residence in Abelemkpe, as part of the investigation into the alleged theft of millions of dollars and other items by her housekeepers.
The sources did not disclose what the significant discovery was, but said it could have implications for the case.
The OSP has also searched Madam Dapaah’s official residence in Cantonments and interrogated some of her close relatives who she claimed owned some of the money.
Madam Dapaah is currently on bail with surety after spending hours in the custody of the OSP. She has been asked to complete an income and property declaration form so that the OSP can track her assets and determine if they were acquired legally.
Madam Dapaah resigned from her position as Sanitation Ministeron Saturday, July 2022, following media reports of two housemaids who worked for her and her husband facing trial for stealing US$1 million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis between July and October 2022.
The housemaids, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, are also accused of taking clothes, handbags, perfumes, jewellery, kente cloth and suits belonging to Mrs. Dapaah’s husband said to be worth thousands of dollars.
Madam Dapaah has questioned the amounts alleged to have been stolen, saying there are “noticeable inconsistencies” in the discussions of what she reported to the police.
She has also denied any wrongdoing and said she is cooperating with the authorities.
