Sanitation Minister robbed as househelps allegedly go away with $1m, €300k and millions of cedis
Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah has been robbed as two of her house helps have allegedly taken a huge sum of money and some valuable items in her home.
An Accra Circuit Court was told the house helps stole an amount of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis from the minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, in their home at Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra, in the Greater Accra region.
According to the prosecution, the thefts happened between July and October last year.
A report by the Chronicle newspaper stated that the two house helps – Patience Botwe, known as Maabena, 18, and Sarah Agyei, 30 are currently facing charges before the court for their alleged involvement in the theft.
The accused are facing one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, involving amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
According to the same report, during the same period, the pair allegedly stole the personal belongings of Cecilia Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery valued at US$95,000.
Further accusations involve Patience acting alone to steal six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which belonged to her husband.
Three additional persons have also been charged in connection with the thefts.
Benjamin, 29, a plumber, has been accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, while Kweku Botwe, 65, a trader, faces charges for dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000.
Additionally, Malik Dauda, 23, who is unemployed, is alleged to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.
All five accused individuals appeared before the Circuit Court presided over by Judge Susana Ekuful on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
However, their pleas have not yet been taken.
Meanwhile, one of the accused persons, Sarah, a breastfeeding mother, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with two sureties who are required to deposit their Ghana cards with the court’s registrar.
It was clarified that the bail conditions are subject to review by the substantive judge as Judge Susana Ekuful was serving as a relief judge at the time.
However, the other accused persons have been remanded into lawful custody.
The alleged thefts were known when the couple reported the case to the police in June 2023 after discovering missing cash and personal belongings in the house.
Patience was caught in the act, having opened and entered the couple’s room using a duplicate key. She was apprehended by Mr Kuffour upon his return home, having noticed the room was unlocked and hearing unusual noises from inside.
Further investigations revealed some of the stolen items and the money were in the possession of Patience and her associates.
The accused allegedly used the stolen funds to finance various properties and purchases, including renting a three-bedroom apartment and a store in Tamale, buying vehicles, and funding other personal expenses.
The court has adjourned the case to Wednesday, August 2, 2023, while investigations continue.