The Financial Division of the High Court in Accra is expected to hear a case filed by the Special Prosecutor for confirmation of its order to freeze seven bank accounts containing local and international currency belonging to former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
Court records filed by the OSP on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, and obtained by Citi News include a letter the agency made to two banks (names omitted) requesting assistance, “with immediate effect direct the freezing of the bank accounts and investments of Cecilia Abena Dapaah with your bank pending investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of your customer. This order takes immediate effect and shall apply to any account and financial assets held by the within-named persons with any branch of your bank…”
“Until this order is revoked or lapses, your bank shall not allow any transaction on the accounts and investments without the written authority of the Office of the Special Prosecutor…”
The OSP took the action, according to the papers, in compliance with Section 38 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
According to the OSP document, Cecilia Dapaah has seven accounts (three and four, respectively) with two different banks.
Following the discovery that Madam Dapaah was storing more than $1 million in her Abelemkpe residence, the OSP is investigating her for corruption and corruption-related crimes.
This comes while the police and the Attorney General are prosecuting those accused of taking money from the minister’s residence.
In July 2023, the Chronicle Newspaper reported that Madam Dapaah’s domestic workers had been hauled to court for allegedly stealing $1 million, $300,000 euros, numerous millions of cedis, and personal goods of the former minister and her husband.
Following a widespread outcry, Cecilia Dapaah resigned from her post. She was detained by the OSP and eventually released on bail.
On Monday, July 24, 2023, officials from the Office of the Special Prosecutor searched the former Minister of Sanitation’s residence.
According to the paper, the OSP discovered US$590,000 and GH2.730,000 in the former Minister’s Abelemkpe house.