The Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has conveyed her dissatisfaction with the court's directive instructing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to return confiscated funds to the embattled former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.

Mary Addah expressed her view that these developments underscore the challenging nature of combating corruption in Ghana, often being a solitary endeavor.

She emphasized the importance of state institutions unequivocally supporting anti-corruption efforts in all circumstances. During an appearance on JoyNews' Newsfile programme on Saturday, September 2, Addah articulated her belief that the court's decision was not in the best interest of the country.

“This is one of the instances where it is difficult to comprehend what exactly is going on. The Office of the Special Prosecutor is one that will help this country if we want to fight corruption, and we continue to support them to carry out their investigations and prosecutions of corruption and corruption-related offenses, and what this judgement brings to bear is that fighting corruption continues to remain a very lonely endeavor,” she told host, Samson Lardy.

On Thursday, August 31, the Financial and Economic Division of an Accra High Court issued a directive instructing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to return all funds that had previously been seized from the embattled former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.

The Court further mandated that compliance with this ruling must be accomplished within a seven-day timeframe. Additionally, the Court clarified that it could not affirm the freezing of her bank accounts and other assets.

Subsequently, the OSP released a statement in response to the Court's order, expressing its respect for the directive while simultaneously disagreeing with it, citing what it deemed as errors in the decision.

“While the OSP respects the Court’s decision, it disagrees with the decision of the Court. First, the OSP believes that the Court’s computation of the time limitation is, with respect, erroneous.”

“The OSP searched three (3) private residences associated with Ms. Dapaah over the course of two (2) weeks. The searches and discovery were ongoing during that period. There is little doubt that the OSP filed its application within the statutory window once the search and discovery window is considered.”

The OSP further clarified that its decision to freeze the accounts was not based on public sentiments as it is purported.

“The freezing order was not based on public sentiments. Rather, it was based on court processes filed in a criminal matter before the Circuit Court, Accra involving Ms. Dapaah as the complainant. Further, the freezing order was effected to aid the investigation, as required by law, not on the basis of the investigation, as indicated by the Court. Therefore, it cannot be said that the OSP did not carry out proper investigations to warrant the freezing order. The investigation has only commenced, and it is ongoing.”

The OSP is investigating Madam Dapaah for corruption and corruption-related offences following the revelation that she was keeping more than $1 million in her house.