The Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that embattled former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah while serving as a Minister of State was engaged in an undisclosed and undeclared real estate business in which she obscured and concealed the transactions by employing the use of aliases to avoid detection of the actual ownership of the business and properties while cleverly receiving the proceeds of the transactions in her bank accounts and investments
The OSP noted that a search conducted at the Abelemkpe residence of the former minister by its authorised officers on 2 July 2023, led to the discovery of the cash sums of US$590,000.00 and GHC2,862,007.00.
Further searches were also conducted in other residential properties of Madam Dapaah in Cantonments and Tesano in Accra where cash moneys were craftily concealed in wraps, polyethene bags, clothes, 32 envelopes and were buried and secreted in obscure places in the residence, some with labels and descriptions.
During interrogation, the OSP in its latest document said the former Sanitation Minister claimed that the various amounts stashed in 32 different envelopes, amounting to a total sum of GH¢132,007.00 were her sitting allowances.
“A record of the various sums sealed in said envelopes range from GH¢400.00 to GH¢ 38,160.00, most of which far exceed the approved sums recommended for payment to public officials as sitting allowances – raising suspicion as to the legitimacy of their sources,” the OSP stated.
Madam Dapaah and her husband are under investigation by the OSP after they reported a cash sum of US$1,000,000.00, €300,000.00 and GH¢ 350,000 belonging to Madam Dapaah had been stolen from her bedroom by her house help.
The couple had also told the Police that other stolen items – including jewelry, bags and clothes belonging to Madam Dapaah amounted to a value of US$131,400.00 and GH¢95,000.00.
While the value of items stolen from her husband stood at GH¢90,000.00 and US$3,000.00.
The OSP having heard this through media report is investigating the source of the money taking into consideration that Madam Dapaah was a public office holder.
