When the Cecilia Dapaah investigations are over, OSP will inform the public.
Cecilia Dapaah is the immediate past Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and the OSP’s investigation is in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence by two house helps in 2022.
The OSP on Monday arrested Cecilia Abena Dapaah and conducted a search in her official residence as sector Minister at Cantonments and her private residence at Abelemkpe in Accra, where the said theft reportedly took place between July and October 2022.
Since the announcement of the arrest and the subsequent search of her residence, there have been varied media reports about the work the OSP is doing.
On the basis of the information reported, some have demanded explanations and briefings from the OSP.
However, the OSP stated that it is “still conducting its investigation” in a public notification that was released Wednesday morning. When the inquiry is finished, the public will be informed about the findings and any other actions the Office may take.
Here is a copy of the notification that is attached.
PUBLIC NOTICE
On Thursday 20 July 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) commenced investigation into suspected corruption and corruption related offences involving the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah in respect of large cash sums reportedly stolen from her house.
The OSP has, since then, taken a number of steps and actions, including placing Ms. Dapaah under arrest and conducting searches at two residential properties associated with her.
The OSP is still conducting its investigation. The public will be briefed on the outcome of the investigation when it is concluded, including any further steps the Office may take.
The OSP placed Cecilia Abena Dapaah under arrest at 11:55 GMT on Monday, July 24, 2023 and questioned her.
Mrs. Dapaah resigned from the position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
OSP searches Cecilia Dapaah’s home
Later on Monday (July 24) officials from the OSP accompanied by police personnel visited the official residence of Mrs Dapaah at Cantonments and at her private home at Abelemkpe in Accra and searched the two places.
Some neighbors gathered around to observe the security officials enter the house.
What took place at Cecilia Dapaah’s house?
Two housekeepers who worked for Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei Kuffour, are accused of stealing money and things worth millions of cedis from the couple’s home in Abelemkpe, Accra. They are being prosecuted at an Accra Circuit Court.
The suspects, Patience Botwe, 18, and Sarah Agyei, 30, have been charged with five charges of theft and conspiracy to commit a felony.
Between July and October 2022, allegedly thefts took place.
According to the police charge sheet, the home helpers allegedly took Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s personal items at this time, including a variety of garments worth GHC 95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry totaling US$ 95,000.
Patience Botwe is also charged with stealing six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH 90 000 and six sets of men’s clothing worth US $ 3 000 from the minister’s husband.
In addition, Patience Botwe’s father and two other people, who have been identified as her current and previous boyfriends, are accused of participating in the crime. They are each accused of receiving GH50,000, GH180,000, and GH1,000,000 dishonestly.
The money and things were taken from Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband’s bedroom at their home, according to court documents, and they belonged to them.
On July 20, 2023, Susana Ekuful, the judge of the Accra Circuit Court, heard the arraignment of the defendants. Their pleadings have not yet been heard, though.
Sarah Agyei was granted bail in the amount of GH1 million with two sureties by the court. The sureties must leave their Ghanaian identification cards with the court’s registrar. Since Susana Ekuful was acting as a relief judge, the bail conditions are up for review by the substantive judge.
On the other side, Patience Botwe has been remanded into legal custody together with her purported boyfriends and father.
After realizing that money and other items were stolen, the complainants called the police and filed a theft report. Patience Botwe was arrested when she was discovered sneaking into the couple’s room with a spare key.
Further investigations showed that Patience had hidden the stolen money and used it to buy homes and pricey stuff, maybe with the assistance of her suspected accomplice Sarah.
