CEO of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has called on Ghanaians to approach the recent allegations against former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, with caution.

The accusations pertain to the alleged theft of funds amounting to US$1 million, €300,000, and 350,000 Ghana cedis from her residence. While acknowledging that keeping such substantial amounts of money at home is inappropriate, Dr. Kokofu advised against rushing to judgment and prematurely passing verdicts in the court of public opinion.

He stressed the importance of allowing the proper investigative processes to unfold before arriving at any conclusions.

"For me, that should not give way to a court of public opinion where people will be roasted and sentenced, judged before the actual investigations have begun," he said.

Speaking on a panel discussion on TV3 over the weekend, he highlighted the opportunity to legally amass such wealth, particularly through the sale of land in some pricey regions of the nation.

"The practice of keeping money at home is not to be encouraged, I for one, I don't know how I will be able to do that because I can't sleep even though I don’t have [such funds].”

He added “The point is until investigations prove otherwise, we are here in this country and you go to East Legon and other lands are being sold for $150,000 per plot…and even more, so $200,000 per plot, so if somebody has five plots and sells them, $1,000,000 is on hand easily…I am trying to say that, how you can realize money in the scheme of things, legally without necessarily engaging in corruption…”

The former minister indicated in her letter of resignation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that she had made the decision to leave because the problems with the money could have a negative impact on the administration.

She did point out that many media have greatly overstated the theft that has occurred in her home.

"Since yesterday, Friday, July 21, 2023, social and traditional media have been full of stories about a court case involving a theft that took place last year in the home I live with my husband and daughter. The stories sought to suggest that I own various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis which have been stolen from my home. Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position.

"I am resigning therefore because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time," parts of the letter read.

Background

As per an official charge sheet from an Accra Circuit Court, audacious thefts took place at the residence of Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband in Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra, spanning three months from July to October 2022.

The accused individuals, identified as Patience and Sarah, are facing grave charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime and multiple counts of stealing, involving staggering amounts of money.

Not only were significant sums of money stolen, but the accused also allegedly made off with Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah's personal belongings, such as valuable clothing, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry, amounting to an astonishing value of GH¢95,000 and US$95,000.

In addition, Patience stands accused of acting alone in the theft of cultural treasures, which include six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men's suits valued at US$3,000, belonging to the minister's husband.

The court has also pressed charges against three other individuals connected to the thefts, indicating the complexity of the case.

It is alleged that the stolen funds were utilized by the accused to finance various properties and purchases, including renting a 3-bedroom apartment and a store in Tamale, acquiring vehicles, and funding other personal expenses.

The court has adjourned the case to August 2, 2023, to allow ongoing investigations to continue.