Key landmark events in the Cecilia Daapah saga
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| Cecilia Abena Dapaah |
The
political landscape of Ghana has been washed with discussions centred on former
Sanitation and Water Resource Minister, Cecilia Abena
Dapaah in recent weeks of alleged corruption and corruption related crimes after it was disclosed that the
two time Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency had reported a case
of theft in her residence by her house helps of monies claimed to be US$1
million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis.
These revelation lead have led to a series of
events in the past weeks, GH Lense takes a look at some of the key landmark
events that have been occasioned by these revelations.
1. Over $1 million allegedly stolen from Cecilia Dapaah’s house
On July 21, 2023, Ghanaians woke up to an
array of news from countless press outlets about an ongoing court case hearing
at the Accra Circuit Court between the Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia
Abena Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour against two of their former
house help for steeling monies amounting millions of Ghana cedi’s and other
valuables.
Media reports indicated that 18-year-old
Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei allegedly stole the monies and
personal effects of the couple, between July and October 2022 and are charged
with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing US$1
million, €300,000 and millions of Ghana cedis.
This news came as a shock to the political
circles in Ghana, not for the case of theft but how such huge amounts of cash
could be kept in the house of a public official with many questioning the
source of the money and calling for an investigation, while others called for
her sack.
2. Cecilia Dapaah resigns as Sanitation and Water Resources Minister
With increasing calls for her sack from a
gross section of the public including members of the opposition National
Democratic Congress (NDC), Civil Society Organisations and political
commentators a day after the scandal broke on July 22 2023, Madam Cecilia
Dapaah in a letter to the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo
Addo announced her resignation from office as Minister for Sanitation and Water
Resources stated that she decided to step down because she do not want the
matter to become a preoccupation of government and as such bean hindrance to
the work of government.
Below
is a copy of her letter to the President.
On the same day the
letter of resignation was sent to the Presidency, the President accepted her
resignation from her position as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources
and wished her well with the hope that she will be vindicated while thanking
her for her productive service to his government and the nation.
"I am
confident… that at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will
be established- the President’s letter read.
The president’s
response to the letter did not occur well with some anti-corruption
campaigners’ and opposition members as it appeared to prejudge the outcome of investigations
into the matter.
President’s acceptance letter is below.
4. Office of the
Special Prosecutor arrest Cecilia Dapaah, conducts house search
Exactly three days
after the saga broke, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) which is
mandated to investigate and prosecute corruption allegations against high-level
officials, announced that it had arrested and was questioning Cecilia Dapaah.
In a statement
released on 24 July 2023 by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, he noted
that “At 11:55 GMT on 24 July 2023, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who resigned from the
position of Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources on 22 July 2023, was
placed under arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in respect of
suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of
money and other valuable items reportedly stolen from her residence.
The OSP on Monday,
July 24, 2023, also searched the home of former Minister of Sanitation and
Water Resources at both her official residence in Cantonments and her private
residence in Abelemekpe she was later released after spending hours in
the custody of the OSP.
5. Special Prosecutor
freezes Cecilia Dapaah’s Bank Accounts
On 9th
August 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) administratively
froze bank accounts belonging to the former minister and has gone to an Accra
High Court with an application to freeze the assets. The court is expected to hear the application for
“confirmation of order of freezing of suspected tainted property,” on August 17,
2023.
The rollercoaster of
events surrounding this issue, seems to have just commenced as the prosecution
of the accused persons for theft from the former minister's house continues in
the same vain the investigation and legal actions against her by the Office of
the Special Prosecutor continue, what happen next, only time will tell.
By Alexander
Bombande
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