A private legal practitioner Mr Kwame Jantuah has told all persons running commentaries on the issues involving the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Cecilia Abena Dapaah that per the laws of Ghana, a person is innocent until proven guilty by the court.
Mr Jantuah who is also chair of the elections committee of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) asked the Special Prosecutor to tell the public whether he has been able to prove corruption against the former Minister.
Speaking on the Big Issue on TV3 Friday August 11, Mr Jantuah 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 seizing the bank accounts because of suspected corruption. If he had interviewed her, he should tell us what are the sources of those interviews.
“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.