The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disagreed with the Accra High Court’s order for the office to return Cecilia Dapaah’s seized money.
The former sanitation minister has been under investigation since July for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences after it was revealed that two of her house helps were in court for allegedly stealing over $1 million from her residence.
Following the revelation, the OSP conducted a search at the former minister’s home and subsequently froze her accounts after it discovered
But on Thursday, August 31, 2023, the High Court ruled that Madam Cecilia Dapaah’s money be returned to her since the OSP has no power to freeze her accounts.
In responding to the court’s ruling in a statement, the OSP said “While the OSP respects the Court’s decision, it disagrees with the decision of the Court and believes that the Court’s computation of the time limitation is, with respect, erroneous”.
Justifying the decision to freeze Cecilia Dapaah’s accounts the OSP mentioned that, it was based on court processes filed in a criminal matter before the Circuit Court, Accra involving Ms. Dapaah as the complainant.
“Further, the freezing order was effected to aid the investigation, as required by law and not based on public sentiments as the court suggests.
“Therefore, it cannot be said that the OSP did not carry out proper investigations to warrant the freezing order. The investigation has only commenced, and it is ongoing.”
See full statement below
