On July 21, 2023, the Chronicle newspaper reported that substantial amounts of local and foreign currency had been stolen from the residence of the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
Following the news, several significant incidents occurred over the past 12 days:
a. The minister resigned from her position on July 22.
b. On July 24, she was arrested and later granted bail by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
c. On the same day, the OSP conducted a search of her residences in Accra.
d. The police sent the case docket to the Attorney General for advice.
Today, August 2, as the case returns to the Accra Circuit Court, several things are expected:
a. The two main accused individuals and three accomplices may be asked to enter their pleas.
b. The advice of the Attorney General may be read in court.
c. The charge sheet could be amended to address the inconsistencies between the figures reported by the minister and her husband and what the charge sheet states regarding the cash sums stolen.
According to GhanaWeb’s July 21 report, two individuals, Patience Botwe (18 years old) and Sarah Agyei (30 years old), are currently facing charges before an Accra Circuit Court for their alleged involvement in the theft of significant sums of money and personal belongings belonging to Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour.
The thefts, amounting to millions of Ghana Cedis, allegedly occurred at the couple’s residence in Abelemkpe, Accra, between July and October 2022.
The accused, Patience and Sarah, face 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. Additionally, they are accused of stealing assorted clothes, handbags, perfumes, jewelry, Kente cloth, and men’s suits.
The court has also charged three more individuals in connection with the thefts: Benjamin, Kweku Botwe, and Malik Dauda.
Sarah has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million due to being a breastfeeding mother, while Patience, her alleged boyfriends, and father have been remanded into lawful custody.
The alleged thefts came to light when the complainants reported the incidents to the police in June of the current year. Patience was caught in the act, leading to the discovery of the stolen items and money in possession of her and her associates.
The court adjourned the case to August 2, 2023, to continue investigations.
