he Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has unveiled further details regarding the substantial sums of cash discovered at the Abelemkpe residence of former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. Disturbingly, the OSP has asserted that Dapaah has been unable to provide legitimate justification for the origin of these funds.
The OSP’s disclosures have cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the cash discovered, raising concerns about the sources of these substantial sums. Notably, the investigation revealed that various amounts were found concealed in 32 different envelopes, totaling GH¢132,007. Dapaah claimed that these funds were derived from her sitting allowances.
However, according to the OSP’s fact sheet, “a record of the various sums sealed in said envelopes ranges from Four Hundred cedis (GH¢400.00) to Thirty-Eight Thousand One Hundred and Sixty cedis (GH¢ 38,160.00), most of which far exceed the approved sums recommended for payment to public officials as sitting allowances.” This significant discrepancy has raised doubts about the legitimacy of the sources of these funds.
Furthermore, the OSP’s investigation extended to Madam Dapaah’s husband, who indicated that his niece remits money from the United States for construction purposes. Strikingly, the identified niece was unable to provide evidence of the source of these funds and lacked documentation demonstrating the lawful remittance of these sums to the second respondent (Madam Dapaah).
Even more concerning, the niece claimed to have personally transported a substantial sum, purportedly amounting to Two Hundred Thousand United States dollars (US$200,000.00), without any lawful declaration.
These revelations add another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation, deepening suspicions regarding the origins and legality of the substantial cash discovered at Cecilia Dapaah’s residence. The OSP’s determination to scrutinize these financial matters underscores the gravity of the allegations and the commitment to upholding transparency and accountability in public office.
