I’ve never intervened in Cecilia Dapaah’s case; OSP is independent – Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he never intervened in the ongoing investigation involving the former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dappah.
He says the Special Prosecutor has been independent since the investigations commenced.
Speaking at the launch of the evaluation of Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan at the Jubilee House in Accra on Thursday, President Akufo-Addo said, “No evidence or allegation has been forthcoming that the executive has made any attempt to influence the outcome of any of these investigations. The latest episode involving the former Minister for Sanitation, the Honourable Cecilia Abena Dapaah, is evident for all to see.
“I am not aware of any government in the Fourth Republic subjecting so many of its officials to such investigations and enquiries.”
“At the same time, several officials in the previous Mahama administration such as William Matthew Tetteh Tevi, Alhaji Salifu Osman, and Eugene Baffour Bonney in the $ 4 million NCA’s scandal have been tried and convicted of various corruption-related offences and several other including Dr Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD and the Honourable Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader are standing trial as we speak,” he added.
The OSP arrested Madam Dapaah on July 24, 2023, on suspicion of corruption and corruption-related offences after she and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffuor, reported huge sums of money were stolen from their home by their two housemaids.
The OSP then administratively froze the bank accounts of the former minister and filed an application before an Accra High Court seeking to confirm the $590,000 and GH¢2.86 million seized at her home as well as the freezing of the accounts pending further investigation into the true ownership and source of the monies.
However, an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Edward Twum dismissed the application, indicating that based on the available facts before it, there was no justifiable basis for the authorised officers of the OSP to exercise the powers of seizure without a court warrant or order.
The OSP released the funds to Madam Dapaah and lifted the freeze on the accounts, but later seized the money and again froze the accounts.
They subsequently filed another application seeking confirmation of the seizure and freeze.