Court orders OSP to return former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Daapah’s seized monies

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has withdrawn its cases against former sanitation minister Cecilia Dapaah. The cases include one seeking the confirmation of the seizure of the GHc2.73 million and $590,000 its officers seized from the residence of the former sanitation and water resources Minister and the criminal case by the OSP, accusing the former minister of failing to declare her assets as the law demands. The Court, presided over by Justice Nana Brew, following the withdrawal, ordered the OSP, to return seized monies within 72-hours and also unfreeze her accounts.

Hearing was moved to the Judge’s Chambers on Thursday morning, when the case was called for hearing. However, information gathered from chambers, indicated that the Special Prosecutor, withdrew both cases from court, bringing an end to its battle with the former Sanitation Minister. According to the OSP, the cases are within the mandate of money laundering and for that reason, will be transferring them to EOCO for investigation. The Court, consequently, asked the OSP to release all the assets it had seized from Cecilia Dapaah including monies seized from her home and the frozen accounts within 72 hours.

The OSP and lawyers of the former minister have been in court since July 2023 when the anti-graft agency commenced investigations on Cecilia Dapaah for alleged corruption and corruption-related offences following allegations that she had more than $1 million at her home. This was after Miss Dapaah and her husband had reported that sums of money were allegedly stolen by two of their house helps from their residence, and were arraigned before the Circuit Court.