The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has complied with a High Court order by unfreezing Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s bank accounts and investments and returning seized cash sums in her presence and with her lawyers’ assent.
Compliance with the order by the High Court on August 31, 2023, effectively terminates the proceedings that began on July 24, 2023, with the seizure of cash amounts from Ms. Dapaah and the freezing of her bank accounts and investments from July 26, 2023.
The OSP has, however, indicated it is pursuing new actions in the investigation of suspected corruption and corruption-related offenses involving the embattled former Sanitation Minister.
According to the OSP, investigations into Ms. Dapaah’s suspected corruption and related financial activities are still ongoing.
A statement issued by the OSP said investigations have revealed varying and sometimes conflicting accounts regarding the ownership and sources of the substantial sums of money associated with Ms. Dapaah.
This includes the cash amounts reportedly stolen from her residence, the seized funds, and the nature and volume of transactions in her financial accounts and investments.
The Special Prosecutor expressed reasonable suspicion that the cash amounts seized from and subsequently returned to Ms. Dapaah may be tainted property.
To prevent the potential concealment or loss of these funds, he has once again invoked his statutory power, this time under section 32(1)(a) of Act 959, directing the seizure of the cash amounts from Ms. Dapaah.
“The Special Prosecutor has invoked his statutory power under section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of L.I. 2374 by directing the freezing of the bank accounts and investments of Ms. Dapaah effective 5 September 2023.”
“Further, subsequent to the indicated ruling and order of the High Court and the compliance by the OSP with said ruling and order, the Special Prosecutor considers that he has reasonable grounds to suspect that the cash amounts seized from and returned to Ms. Dapaah is tainted property and it is necessary to exercise the power of seizure to prevent the concealment or loss of said cash amounts,” the statement said.