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The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has confirmed that the accounts belonging to former Water Resources and Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, have been frozen.
This action was taken following a court order issued by an Accra High Court. The OSP, in a statement, explained that they have complied with this court order.
Investigations into allegations of corruption and related offenses against Madam Dapaah are ongoing, and it is believed that the funds in her possession are tainted, which led to the decision to seize them.
“Consequently, after the indicated ruling and order of the High Court and the compliance by the OSP with said ruling and order, the Special Prosecutor considers that freezing the bank accounts and investments of Ms. Dapaah is necessary to facilitate the ongoing investigation. Therefore, the Special Prosecutor has invoked his statutory power under section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of L.I. 2374 by directing the freezing of the bank accounts and investments of Ms. Dapaah effective 5 September 2023.”
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“Further, after the indicated ruling and order of the High Court and the compliance by the OSP with said ruling and order, the Special Prosecutor considers that he has reasonable grounds to suspect that the cash amounts seized from and returned to Ms. Dapaah is tainted property and it is necessary to exercise the power of seizure to prevent the concealment or loss of said cash amounts. Therefore, the Special Prosecutor has again invoked his statutory power under section 32(1)(a) of Act 959 by directing the seizure from Ms. Dapaah of the cash amounts previously seized from her. Authorized officers of the OSP have tried said cash amounts from Ms. Dapaah,” it said in its statement.
The investigation was triggered by the shocking revelation of stolen funds by her domestic staff, prompting a comprehensive search of the minister’s residences by the Office of the Special Prosecutor due to the significant sums reported missing.