Member of Parliament for the Obom/Domeabrea constituency, Sophia Karen Ackuaku has described the action of Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah to keep over $1 million Cash in her bedroom when many vulnerable women are on the streets scrambling for survival as a tale of disgrace to female politicians in particular and women in general.
According to her, the notion that women are better managers of the economy when appointed to high office has been defeated by the singular action of Cecilia Dapaah.
She emphasized that, for a female Minister to have kept such an amount in her house and even go to Court to retrieve same when it was stolen from her brings more shame to women.
Hon Sophia was reacting to media reports that over $ 1 million belonging to Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah was stolen under her bed in her bedroom by her former housemaids.
“In all sincerity, I think Hon Cecilia Dapaah has let us (women) down. This is shameful and a disgrace to women, especially those of us in politics, that a woman can keep such monies in her bedroom when we have vulnerable women on the streets.
“There are women on the streets, they need just GHS100.00 to sell pure water, Oranges, or Groundnuts to Survive with their children and a woman can keep such money in her bedroom?
“Even if the money is for her, she should have kept it in a Bank, When Victoria Hammah’s tape was leaked about her just wishing to make $ 1 million, we condemned her. And we must equally condemn Madam Cecilia Dapaah,” Hon Sophia said.
Meanwhile, Hon Cecilia on Saturday, July 22, 2023 tendered in her resignation as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources. President Akufo-Addo has subsequently acknowledged receipt of same.
Two house helps of Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are currently before a Circuit Court in Accra, for allegedly stealing monies and items running into millions of Ghana Cedis.
The said monies were allegedly stolen from the couple’s room in their house at Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra, in the Greater Accra region.
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.
The first accused, (A1) Patience, also has her current and former boyfriends, as well as her father, all being dragged before the same court.
Patience and Sarah (A2), 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.
Within the same period, Patience and Sarah allegedly stole the personal effects of Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, which included assorted clothes, valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, and perfumes,
The rest is jewelry valued at US$95,000 from Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
However, within the same period, Patience alone stole six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which are properties of the minister’s husband.
Benjamin (A3), 29 years old, a plumber, has been charged for dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, Kweku Botwe (A4), 65 years, a trader, also dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000 and Malik Dauda (A5), 23 and unemployed, dishonesty receiving GH¢1 million.
As earlier stated, the monies mentioned are all properties of Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, stolen from a bedroom that she shares with her husband.
All five accused persons were arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Susana Ekuful on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Their pleas are yet to be taken, but Sarah has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with two sureties. The sureties are to deposit their Ghana cards with the court’s registrar.
Her Honour, Susana Ekuful, further stated that the bail condition is subject to review by the substantive judge, as she was serving as a relief judge.
Patience, together with her alleged boyfriends and father, had been remanded into lawful custody.
Sarah was granted bail because she is a breastfeeding mother.
Source: expressnewsghana.com