The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated legal proceedings against Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, for allegedly failing to comply with the lawful demands of an OSP officer in the line of duty.
This case, filed on October 6, 2023, is set to be heard in the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra.
The OSP alleges that Dapaah did not declare her property and income within the stipulated 30 days of being served notice.
The former Minister, aged 68, is currently under investigation for corruption and corruption-related offenses, including the alleged misuse of her public office for personal gain, involving significant sums of cash reportedly stolen from her residence.
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According to documents submitted by the OSP, on July 24, 2023, the Special Prosecutor, as part of his official duties, served Dapaah with “a notice to declare her property and income under regulation 20 (1) per Forms 11 A and 11B of the First Schedule of the OSP (Operations) Regulation, 2018 (LI2374).”
The OSP further stated that the accused was duly served and informed using the statutory forms, along with a cover letter under the OSP seal, which required her, in accordance with the law, to submit the specified declaration. The submission should have been returned to the OSP within 30 days of service.
However, as of the close of business on October 5, 2023, the former Minister had allegedly willfully failed to return the duly completed statutory forms, without a lawful excuse, according to the OSP.
- Reporting by Joyce Danso : Editing by Adejoke Adewale