The Office of the Special Prosecutor has withdrawn its application for confirmation to freeze the bank accounts and seize assets of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The office also dropped the case against the former Minister following her failure to declare her income.
In court on Thursday, January 25, Kissi Agyebeng sought audience with Justice Nana Brew and pleaded to approach the bench.
After a brief session, the judge called for an in-chambers meeting with the Special Prosecutor and counsel for Cecilia Dapaah and the parties involved.
According to 3news sources, the Office of the Special Prosecutor communicated his dropping of his cases against the former Sanitation Minister.
OSP refers Cecilia Dapaah’s case to Economic and Organised Crime Office
Justice Nana Brew then ordered him to return the seized monies and assets of Madam Abena Dapaah and her husband within 72 hours.
Background
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has been in a tussle with Madam Cecilia Dapaah at the Economic and Financial Court 2 since July 2023 after the anti-corruption body began investigations into the former Sanitation Minister over monies stolen from her residence and additional funds subsequently found in her home during investigations.
The OSP commenced investigations citing alleged corruption and corruption-related offences after describing over $1 million found at her residence as tainted.
The case has taken several turns including an appointment of another Judge to preside over the case after the initial judge went on leave.
The genesis of the saga was brought about by Police Prosecutors charging domestic workers for the former Sanitation Minister and her husband for allegedly stealing money and personal items worth millions of Ghana cedis from the couple’s residence at Abelemkpe in Accra.
The matter has since been escalated to the Accra High Court as the accused persons continue to be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the OSP has discontinued all cases against Ms Dapaah and handed over to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng announced this at a press conference in Accra on January 25.
“The Office has determined that the crime borders largely on money laundering, which falls within the mandate of EOCO,” he said.