OSP places Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah under Arrest over suspected Corruption

Ghana’s anti-graft office, the Special Prosecutor, has picked former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecelia Abena Dapaah for interrogation over the stolen cash in her bedroom.

She is being interrogated by officers of the OSP pending prosecution for corruption and corruption-related offenses if the OSP found a prima-facie case against her.

A press statement signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng said Madam Cecilia was placed under arrest in the late Monday morning at 11:55 am for investigation.

Meanwhile, Hon Cecilia on Saturday, July 22, tendered her resignation as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.

President Akufo-Addo has acknowledged receipt and accepted her resignation.

Two house helps Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are before an Accra Circuit Court, 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, Patience alone, within the same period 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 registrar of the court.

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