Cecilia Dapaah hasn’t shown the monies are from her business – Kpebu backs OSP

Martin Kpebu, a private attorney, praised the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for refreezing the bank accounts and retrieving the funds of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapah.

Thursday, August 31, the Financial Division of the Accra High Court ruled that the OSP must return all seized property belonging to the former minister of state and unfreeze her accounts within seven days.

The court ruled that the OSP had no justifiable basis for the seizure of the property because it erroneously entered the act, as well as no justifiable basis for freezing Madam Abena Dapaah's bank accounts.

It was stated that the OSP's action was based on speculation and a reaction to public sentiment, resulting in subpar investigations.

On Tuesday, September 5, the OSP complied with the High Court's order but promptly seized the property and froze her accounts and funds again, citing ongoing investigations.

Mr. Kpebu insisted on Tuesday, September 5, that Ms. Abena Dapaah has not demonstrated that the funds are hers.

"There is no way we could look at the laws and allow Madam Dapaah to leave with the money," he said, adding that the Court has prompted the OSP to further investigate the minister.

"She has not demonstrated that she has managed a business," he noted.

"Do you believe that if she had a company that was producing so much in sales from day one and she had money and could explain this, the company would not have been launched?" He was curious.

He insists that the former Bantama member of parliament (MP) has not shown that she can earn such a substantial sum of money as a minister.

Madam Abena Dapaah's problems began when she reported missing funds totaling nearly $1 million, €300,000, and millions of undisclosed Ghana Cedis to the police. She suspected two housekeepers of skimming money from her room.

In accordance with section 32(1) of Act 959, the OSP later conducted a search of her three residences and discovered $590,000 and GH2.73 million at her Abelemkpe residence.

In accordance with section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of LI 2374, the Office subsequently issued a blocking order on Madam Abena Dapaah's bank accounts and investments at Prudential Bank and Societe Generale Bank.

The High Court, however, ruled otherwise and ordered the release of the accounts and funds within seven days.

According to ongoing investigations, the OSP deems it necessary to re-freeze the accounts.

Invoking his statutory authority under section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of LI 2374, the Special Prosecutor has ordered the suspension of Ms. Dapaah's bank accounts and investments effective September 5, 2023.