The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says the money it seized from former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has been returned in compliance with the order from the High Court last week.
According to the OSP, it has also unfrozen the bank accounts of the former minister.
This was announced by the OSP in a press release dated today, September 5, 2023.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has complied with the ruling and order of the High Court, Accra dated 31 August 2023 by unfreezing the frozen bank accounts and investments of Cecilia Abena Dapaah. The OSP has also returned the seized cash sums of Ms. Dapaah in the presence and assent of Ms. Dapaah and her lawyers. The satisfaction by the OSP of the order of the High Court terminates the proceedings of the seizure of the cash amounts from Ms. Dapaah commenced on 24 July 2023 and the freezing of her bank accounts and investments effected from 26 July 2023,” OSP said in its statement.
The Accra High Court on Thursday, August 31 instructed the OSP to return the money within seven days and rescind its August 9 decision to freeze her Dollar and Cedi accounts.
After the ruling, the OSP in a statement on the same day said it respects the directive but disagrees with it because it is erroneous.
“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 over the course of 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.”
Background
Madam Dapaah, former Sanitation Minister became the talk of the town in July 2023, when the Chronicle Newspaper reported that her domestic helps had been dragged to court for allegedly stealing $1 million, 300,000 euros, several millions of cedis and personal effects of the former minister and her husband valued at thousands of Ghana Cedis and dollars.
Cecilia Dapaah subsequently resigned from her position after a public uproar. She was arrested by the OSP and was later granted bail.
Officials from the Office of the Special Prosecutor on Monday, July 24, 2023, searched the home of the former Minister of Sanitation.