We’ll comply with court order to unfreeze Cecilia Dapaah’s accounts – OSP
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has indicated that it will comply with the order of the High Court to release accounts and monies belonging to former Minister of Sanitation Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
According to the Director of Strategy, Research and Communication Division at the OSP, Sammy Appiah Darko, the OSP has various legal avenues to ensure that the former minister’s funds are protected.
“There are several options we have. In this instance, there’s no talk about any appeal. The OSP will use every legal means available to us. There are several legal means available to us with respect to the seized money and the frozen account.”
In a press statement issued by the OSP, the office disagreed with the high court’s refusal to grant the application for the seizure and freezing orders of Cecilia Dapaah’s funds and accounts.
The OSP said that the court’s conclusion not to grant their order was erroneous, but the office will respect the decision.
The statement further said that the office would take all necessary legal steps to ensure that the seized amounts and the balances in Ms Dapaah’s accounts and investments are neither concealed nor lost.
On the back of this, Mr. Darko reiterated, “As the Special Prosecutor indicated, we are going to comply with the order of the court, but as you also know, we also have several legal avenues available to us to ensure that the money is not dissipated neither is it taken away.”
He clarified that the OSP’s primary role is to investigate cases of corruption and corruption-related offences – and after conducting an investigation, proceed to charge individuals with specific corruption offences.
Mr Darko emphasised that, in the case of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the OSP is currently investigating her for corruption and corruption-related offences and has not yet filed formal charges against her.
He explained that regarding the investigation into the assets of the former Sanitation Minister, the OSP abided by a 14-day time frame and expressed surprise as to why the court refused to grant a freezing order.