Cecilia Dapaah resigns and President Akufo-Addo accepts it

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has accepted the resignation of the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resource, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

In her resignation letter addressed to the President, Madam Dapaah said she decided to step down “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.”

“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.”

As a result, the Minister wished to excuse herself from her 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,” she explained.

Cecilia Dapaah added that even though she is resigning, she intends to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts of the matter.

She believes that she will be exonerated of all allegations leveled against her, adding that “I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the processes, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service.”

She thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the beautiful nation of Ghana.

“It has been a great privilege and honour for me to have been given the opportunity to serve in your government and an even greater honour to have worked to try and bring your great vision for our country to fruition,” she added.

Two house helps accused of theft of $1m €300,000, millions of cedis and valuables are on trial at an Accra Circuit Court.

The suspects are the house helps of Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour at Abelemkpe home.

The two 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, are accused of the theft of $1m €300,000, millions of cedis, valuables between July and October last year.

Three additional persons have also been charged with dishonestly receiving portions of the stolen cash in connection with the thefts.

Facts of the case are that one of the house helps Patience was caught in the act, having opened and entered the couple’s room using a duplicate key.

Mr Kuffour returned home and noticed that the door to their bedroom was unlocked and hearing unusual noises from inside.

When Mr Kufuor entered the room, he caught Patience in the act of stealing.

He reported her to the police and Patience was arrested and released on police enquiry bail.

Patience went into hiding with her boyfriend, Benjamin, in Tamale.

While in Tamale, the love birds allegedly rented a 3-bedroom apartment at the cost of GH¢105,600 as well as a store at the cost of GH¢120,000.

The police arrested her upon intelligence and on a spot search conducted in their apartment led to the retrieval of US$40,000 and GH¢72, 619.70.

Patience allegedly bought 3-bedroom house at a cost of US$70,000 at Amrahia and furnished it with the following brand new items – a double decker refrigerator, water dispenser, a television set, washing machine and a chest cooler among others.

She also bought Hyundai Elantra at the cost of GH¢80,000 for Benjamin who also sold it to purchase Honda Civic.

Patience also gave her father GH¢50,000 and GH¢1million to Malik (ex-boyfriend.)

The court heard that patience implicated Sarah during interrogation that she was her accomplice.

Thus, when they were working together in the complainants’ house, Patience used to keep watch at the main gate to enable Sarah to enter the couple’s room to steal, after which they shared the spoil.

Sarah was arrested at Budumburam and during investigation, it came to light that she used her portion of the stolen money to build 3-bedroom house at where she was arrested.

Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei are facing one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, involving amounts of $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.

They also allegedly stole personal belongings of Cecilia Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry valued at $95,000.

Further accusations involve Patience acting alone to steal six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at $3,000, which belonged to her husband.

Further investigations revealed some of the stolen items and the money were in possession of Patience and her associates.

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

Additionally, Malik Dauda, a 23-year-old unemployed individual, is alleged to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.

All five accused individuals appeared before the Circuit Court presided over by Judge Susana Ekuful on Thursday, July 20. However, their pleas have not yet been taken.

Meanwhile, one of the accused persons, Sarah, a breastfeeding mother due to her condition has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with two sureties who are required to deposit their Ghana cards with the court’s registrar.

It was clarified that the bail conditions are subject to review by the substantive judge as Judge Susana Ekuful was serving as a relief judge at the time.

However, the other accused persons have been remanded into lawful custody.

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