The Office of the Special Prosecutor has declared that it disagrees with a decision made by the Accra High Court regarding Cecilia Dapaah, a former minister of water resources and sanitation, and her frozen bank accounts.
Even though the OSP respects the court’s decision, it disagrees with the order, according to a press release issued on Thursday, August 31, 2023, and signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.
The OSP challenged the court’s ruling because, contrary to the court’s assertion, the OSP filed its application for the seizure and freezing orders within the allotted time period.
“While the OSP respects the Court’s decision, it disagrees with the decision of the Court. First, the OSP believes that the Court’s computation of the time limitation is, with respect, erroneous. The OSP searched three (3) private residences associated with Ms. Dapaah throughout two (2) weeks. The searches and discovery were ongoing during that period. There is little doubt that the OSP filed its application within the statutory window once the search and discovery window is considered,” parts of the statement read.
“Second, the seizure by the OSP and the Special Prosecutor’s freezing order was effectuated on the very firm basis of reasonable suspicion that the amounts and bank balances were tainted property as Ms. Dapaah prevaricated as to the source(s) of the amounts she reported stolen from her residence, the amounts discovered by the OSP in her residence, and the volume of transactions in her bank accounts and investments,” the statement added.
The OSP further stated that the actions of freezing and seizing the assets were not based on popular opinion but rather on a reasonable suspicion that the sums of money in the accounts of the troubled former minister were suspect.
Following the discovery that Madam Dapaah was keeping more than $1 million in her home, the OSP opened a corruption and corruption-related offense investigation into her.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor conducted a thorough search of the minister’s residences following the shocking revelation of stolen funds by her domestic staff. This was due to the staggering amounts that were reported stolen.
