Ghana’s Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has resigned from her position.
In a letter addressed to President Akufo-Addo, Dapaah noted that it was a great privilege to have served under the former’s administration.
She said: “Since yesterday, Friday, 22nd July 2023, social and traditional media have been full of stories about a court case involving a theft that took place last year in the home I live with my husband and daughter. The stories sought to suggest that I own various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis which have been stolen from my home”.
“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.
“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 also added that she will cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts.
Dapaah debunked claims that she owns theUS$1 million, €300,000 and millions of Ghanaian cedis which was stolen from her house.
According to the Minister, there are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter.
In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, she said: “I refer to publications dated 21/07/2023 suggesting that I own one million dollars, three hundred thousand euros and millions of cedis which have been stolen from my house”.
“There are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter”.
Dapaah also revealed that she is taking steps to examine the origins of the inconsistencies and will provide a detailed response in the coming days.
Two house helps – 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei – are facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court for their alleged involvement in the theft of significant sums of money and personal belongings of Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour.
The theft, which amounts to millions of Ghana cedis, reportedly took place at the couple’s residence in Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra, between July and October 2022.
The accused are facing one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, involving amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
During the same period, the pair allegedly stole personal effects from Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at 95,000 Ghanaian cedia, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry valued at US$95,000.
Further accusations involve Patience acting alone to steal six pieces of kente cloth worth 90,000 cedia and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which belonged to the minister’s husband.
The court also charged three additional individuals in connection with the thefts.
A 29-year-old plumber, Benjamin has also been accused of dishonestly receiving 180,000 cedis, while 65-year-old trader, Kweku Botwe faces charges for dishonestly receiving 50,000 cedis.
Additionally, Malik Dauda, a 23-year-old unemployed individual, is alleged to have dishonestly received 1 million cedis.
All five accused individuals appeared before an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Judge Susana Ekuful last Thursday.
However, their pleas have not yet been taken.
Of the accused, Sarah has been granted 1 million cedis bail, with two sureties 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.
In her briefing, Judge Ekuful revealed that Patience, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, has been remanded into lawful custody. However, Sarah was granted bail due to being a breastfeeding mother.
According to the prosecution, Patience, also known as Maabena, previously worked as a house help for the complainants, Kuffour and his wife, Dapaah.
Sarah, too, was a former house help for the couple.
The alleged thefts came to light in June when the complainants reported the incidents to the police after discovering missing cash and personal belongings.
Patience was caught in the act, having opened and entered the couple’s room using a duplicate key. She was apprehended by Kuffour upon his return home, having noticed the room was unlocked and hearing unusual noises from inside.
Further investigations revealed the stolen items and the money in possession of Patience and her associates.
The accused allegedly used the stolen funds to finance various properties and purchases, including renting a three-bedroom apartment and a store in Tamale, buying vehicles, and funding other personal expenses.
The court has adjourned the case to 2nd August, while investigations continue.
Source: Thinknewsonline.com
