The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has arrested former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah over alleged corruption and corruption-related offences.
In a statement signed by Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, the OSP disclosed that Ms. Dapaah was arrested at about 11:55 am on Monday, July 24, 2023 and is currently being questioned by officials of the OSP over the source of large amounts of monies that she stashed at her home and other valuables worth thousands of Cedis which have now been stolen.
“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.
Ms. Dapaah is being questioned by authorised Officers of the OSP,” the statement disclosed.
Ms. Cecilia Dapaah resigned from her position following public outcry over huge sums of monies she reportedly stashed in her Abelemkpe residence.
This came into light after her 2 house helps – former and current- and 3 others were dragged to court for allegedly stealing her monies.
In documents filed at an Accra Circuit Court, the prosecution alleged that the house help, who is 18 years old, in connivance with a former one, stole an amount of $1 million, another amount of €300,000 and millions of Ghana Cedis belonging to the former Sanitation Minister.
She also allegedly stole valuables including clothes and jewellery worth thousands of Cedis belonging to the Minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour.
The two perpetrators subsequently used the spoils to acquire properties including houses and gave some to the 3 other suspects.
The minister was said to be oblivious of the theft, which took place between July and October 2022, until when her husband caught their house help red-handed.
The maid was said to have burgled the room in an attempt to steal more but had to hide behind the door when she sensed Mr. Osei Kuffuor entering the room.
The revelation sparked public outrage over the source of such huge amounts of money, with many calling for her resignation and an investigation into the issue.
She has since resigned but insists the amounts in question are not huge as being reported in the media.
