Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah who has been under intense criticism after it emerged that millions of dollars and cedis in her home at Akpelempke had been stolen, has finally broken her silence.

In a public notice dated July 21, the minister noted that there are "noticeable inconsistencies" with regards to the story being discussed in the public domain and the "thrust of the original complaint on the matter."

According to Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah, she is taking steps to examine and identify the origins of the inconsistencies.

She has pledged to provide a detailed report in the coming days.

Background

Five individuals are facing charges for their alleged involvement in stealing millions of dollars and euros from Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah's house.

At an Accra Circuit Court, Patience and Sarah are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which include amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.

Clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000 were reportedly stolen as well.

29-year-old plumber, Benjamin, is accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, whereas Kweku Botwe, a 65-year-old trader, has been charged for dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000.

The third, Malik Dauda, 23, who is unemployed, is said to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.

The charges include “conspiracy to commit a crime to wit: stealing: contrary to sections 23(1) and 124(1) of the criminal offenses act of 1960, Act 29.”

What 'stolen money' was allegedly spent on

In Court on Thursday, July 20, it was revealed that Patience, who had a duplicate key to the room of the couple was once caught red-handed by Mr Kuffour.

It has emerged in court the many alleged activities Patience engaged in with the amount of money stolen while in hiding with one Benjamin, her boyfriend, in Tamale.

Per reports, while in Tamale, Patience and Benjamin leased a 3-bedroom apartment at the cost of GH¢105,600 and rented a store at the cost of GH¢120,000.

She is also accused of purchasing 3-bedroom house at a cost of US$70,000 at Amrahia. She later furnished the house with the following items – a double decker refrigerator, water dispenser, a television set, washing machine and a chest cooler among others.

Patience is said to have also gifted her boyfriend a Hyundai Elantra at the cost of GH¢80,000. But he later sold it to purchase a Honda Civic.

After showering gifts on her boyfriend, Patience reciprocated the gesture to her father, whom she gave GH¢50,000, and her former boyfriend, who received an amount of GH¢1 million.

Sarah on the other hand, is said to have purchased a 3-bedroom house at Budumburam.

The court granted Sarah bail in the amount of GH¢1 million, and two sureties are required to deposit their Ghana cards with the court’s registrar.

The bail conditions are however subject to review as Judge Susana Ekuful was serving as a relief judge at the time.

During her briefing, Judge Susana Ekuful disclosed that Patience, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, has been remanded into lawful custody.

The court has adjourned the case to August 2, 2023, to allow for further investigations.

Reactions

Former President John Dramani Mahama has described as outrageous news regarding some millions of dollars and cedis stolen from the home of Cecilia Dapaah.

the former President in a tweet on Friday, July 21, questioned the Sanitation Minister's rationale for keeping such huge amounts of money in her home even it was acquired legally.

"$1m + €300k and millions of GHS in a Ghanaian Minister’s home? Scandalous!! Even if genuinely acquired, why keep millions of hard currency at home?" he quizzed.

Owing to this incident, he questioned the leadership of President Akufo-Addo, hinting that the president has failed to set a good example for his public officers.

"Will @NAkufoAddo ever set a good example for public office holders in his administration?" he asked.

NDC MPs want Minister sacked

Certain members of the Minority Members of Parliament have expressed their view that Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, acted unlawfully by keeping significant amounts of money in her house, which has allegedly been stolen by her house helps.

Member of Parliament for Bole Bamboi, Yussif Sulemana, called on President Akufo-Addo to immediately dismiss the Minister while investigations into the source and legitimacy of the money take place.

He emphasized that such actions would demonstrate a commitment to fighting corruption within the government.

The NDC MP for the Kumbungu constituency, Hamza Adam, also expressed shock at the situation, stating that if proven true, the Minister's possession of such large sums of money at her residence would be unlawful.

Both MPs have demanded a thorough investigation to ascertain the origin of the funds and appropriate legal actions to be taken.

Find the full text with information on the charges on the hyperlinked text

Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey