Cecilia Dapaah Arrested By OSP

Former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah has been arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on suspicion of corruption. The OSP confirmed the arrest in a statement issued Monday morning, July 24, 2023.  

The statement signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng disclosed 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.

Mr. Agyebeng said “Ms. Dapaah is being questioned by authorised Officers of the OSP.”

The former Minister’s arrest comes barely 48hours after she resigned from the position. Members of the antigraft community and a section of the Ghanaian public intensified calls for her to resign or be sacked by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Background

It emerged on Friday, July 21 that two house helps of the Minister were facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing an amount of $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghanaian cedis at the former minister’s residence at Abelenkpe, Accra, in October 2022.

The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei allegedly stole the monies and personal effects of the couple, between the months of July and October 2022.

Both have been 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.