My govt will reopen Cecilia Dapaah’s alleged corruption case – Mahama

The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has pledged to reopen investigations into the scandal involving former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah if he becomes president.

In a post shared on X on May 2, the former president stated, “My government will reopen investigations into alleged acts of corruption and graft in the Cecelia Dapaah case.”

Mr Mahama’s remarks follow the Attorney-General’s advice for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to discontinue its investigation into the alleged money laundering case against the former Sanitation Minister.

READ ALSO: Why OSP Discontinued And Referred Cecilia Dapaah’s Case To EOCO

This advice was given following the Attorney General’s determination that the Special Prosecutor’s Office (OSP) request to EOCO to initiate money laundering investigations into Cecilia Dapaah’s affairs lacked a solid foundation.

The OSP requested this after determining that the case involving over $1 million cash found in the former minister’s house, discovered by its officers, did not fall under its jurisdiction. Instead, it raised money laundering concerns.

However, upon a request for advice by EOCO on the matter, the Attorney-General’s office, in a letter dated April 25, 2024, and copied to EOCO, said it found that the OSP did not submit the report on its collaborative investigation to EOCO.

According to the Attorney General’s office, the docket presented to EOCO only includes the OSP’s letter transmitting the docket, the diary of action, statements recorded during the investigation, and letters written by OSP to other institutions like the CID and banks during the inquiry.

The Attorney General’s office emphasised that the key to pursuing money laundering investigations lay in the capacity to prove that financial gains were obtained from criminal proceeds arising from unlawful activity.

The Attorney General’s office also advised against EOCO investigating the source of Cecilia Dapaah’s funds, citing that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had been tasked to take charge of that aspect of the case.

Ms Dapaah’s court hurdles began when seven persons, including her house help, were charged with stealing $1 million, €300,000, and other valuables from her residence.

The OSP subsequently filed a motion to freeze her bank accounts and recover the money she had collected after searching her residence.

In addition to the funds in her accounts, US$590,000 and over GH¢2.730,000 were also recovered from her residence on July 24.

But now, the office has no case against the minister.