Cecilia Dapaah arrested over suspected corruption

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has apprehended Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, on suspicion of corruption and corruption-related offenses. This comes after a significant amount of money and valuable items were allegedly stolen from her residence in 2022 by two of her house helps.

According to a press statement from the OSP, Cecilia Dapaah was arrested at 11:55 GMT on Monday, July 24, 2023. Her resignation as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources took place on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

The OSP clarified that the arrest was in connection with the suspected corruption and theft of substantial amounts of money and valuable belongings from her home. Authorized officers of the OSP are currently questioning her.

In a related development, officials from the OSP, accompanied by the police, conducted a search of Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah's private residence in Abelemkpe, Accra, on the same day of her arrest. Observing neighbors gathered around while the security officials carried out the search.

Earlier, two house helps who worked for Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei Kuffour, faced charges in an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing significant sums of money and items worth millions of cedis from their residence between July and October 2022.

The stolen items included personal effects like clothes, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry belonging to Cecilia Abena Dapaah, as well as men's suits and Kente cloth belonging to her husband. Three other individuals, who were allegedly involved in receiving stolen goods, are also facing charges.

The court granted bail to one of the accused, Sarah Agyei, while the others, including Patience Botwe, were remanded into custody. The case came to light in June 2023 after the complainants reported the theft to the police. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of the house help, Patience Botwe, who was caught trying to enter the couple's room with a duplicate key.

Further inquiries revealed that Patience and her alleged accomplice, Sarah, had hidden the stolen money and used it to buy properties and expensive items.

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