Former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has been embroiled in a controversy over the alleged theft of huge sums of money from her home by her maids. The incident led to her resignation and subsequent arrest by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

According to reports, the stolen cash included $1 million, €300,000, GH¢350,000, as well as jewellery and other valuables. The OSP has also found more cash at two other residences of the former minister in Cantonments and Abelemkpe.

However, some sources have claimed that part of the money belonged to the former minister's deceased brother, Nana Akwasi Eddan II, who was the Numuahene of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He was a farmer, a contractor and a manufacturer of security boots.

Ghanaian journalist Paul Adom-Otchere revealed on his show 'Good Evening Ghana' that $800,000 out of the total amount reportedly stolen was in a box given to Cecilia Dapaah by her mother, Nana Ode Nyarko II (of blessed memory), before she passed away.

He said that Nana Akwasi Eddan II had plans to use the money for construction works but died before he could execute them. His mother then handed over the money to Cecilia Dapaah, who was a minister at the time and had police protection.

"It was delivered in a box. It is the same box stolen that the mother delivered to Cecilia, that your brother has passed. He left me this money for his contractor work. He said he was going to buy land at Bremang and build houses and sell. That is what he told me and that is what this money is for. So can you please take the money and call the other family people," Adom-Otchere quoted the mother as saying.

He added that some of the family members confirmed the source of the money to the police and wrote statements to that effect.

Meanwhile, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) communications team, Clement Wilkinson, suggested that Cecilia Dapaah might have received donations towards the funeral ceremony of her brother, which took place in April 2022.

“The company which received $43 million dollars to dredge the Odaw river could have given Cecilia Dapaah $2 million dollars in funeral donation. You know until the family meets to look at the entire donation, it would not be touched. It could be the reason the money was at her home,” he said.

The case is still under investigation by the OSP, which has charged five suspects with conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing. The suspects are Patience Botwe (18), Sarah Agyei (30), who are both maids of Cecilia Dapaah, and three others who allegedly benefited from the stolen money.