A member of the communications team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Eric Amoako Twum, has said that the mere fact that an allegation has been made against a person, does not necessarily mean the accused is guilty of the offense.
He explained that it has to go through a process for it to be established whether or not an accused is guilty.
“The fact that allegations are made does not necessarily connote guilt. Until it goes through certain processes. That guilt can only be pronounced by a court of competent jurisdiction,” Mr Twum Amoako emphasized.
It is only a court of competent jurisdiction that can pronounce one guilty, he said on the Big Issue on TV3 Friday August 11, while commenting on the issues involving former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The fact that allegations are made doesn't connote guilt – Eric Amoako Twum on the Cecilia Dapaah cash saga.#TV3NewDay pic.twitter.com/GFt6PfMsUT
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) August 11, 2023
Commenting on the matter on the same show, a private legal practitioner Mr Kwame Jantuah said the Special Prosecutor, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, must tell the public whether he has been able to prove corruption against the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
In the view of Mr Jantuah, the public needs to know what transpired during the questioning of the former Minister by the Special Prosecutor.
He said “Ghana’s jurisprudence tells you that you are innocent until proven guilty. So perhaps the Special Prosecutor should tell us whether with the interviews with Cecilia Dapaah he has been able to prove corruption.
[The Special Prosecutor] says he is freezing the bank accounts because of suspected corruption. If he had interviewed her, he should tell us what are the sources of those monies.
“What did you glean from interviewing her with regard to the source of the money? It is mindboggling to see that even in today’s times she still has money elsewhere.”
The OSP has confirmed finding a total of $590,000 and GH¢2.73 million at Cecilia Dapaah’s residence in Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra.
This follows a search conducted by officers from the Office.
This was confirmed in a writ filed at an Accra High Court by the OSP on Tuesday, August 8.
The case has been moved to be heard on Thursday, August 17.
In the writ sighted by 3news.com, the OSP indicated that the search was initiated in accordance with LI2374 after rife reports pointed to some monies still stashed in the home of the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources.
The reports started pouring in after she lodged a complaint at the police over some stolen money from her home.
“On 24 July 2023, the OSP placed the respondent under arrest on charges of corruption and corruption-related offences.
“The OSP subsequently conducted searches in three(3) residential properties associated with the respondent at Cantonments, Abelemkpe and Tesano in Accra.”
It said it found $590,000 and GH¢2,730,000 at the Abelemkpe residence.
“Authorised officers of the OSP seized the discovered cash sums on reasonable grounds that they were suspected tainted property in accordance with section 32(1) of Act 959 as it was necessary to exercise the power of seizure to prevent concealment of the cash sums.”
It also said as part of overarching investigations into the matter, a freezing order against bank accounts and investments of Madam Abena Dapaah was issued in accordance with section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of LI 2374.
The accounts and investments are at Prudential Bank Limited and Societe Generale Ghana.