The Member of Parliament for Tema West, Carlos Ahenkora says the decision by the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah to go to court over her stolen $1M, €300K was not a strategic move by her.
According to Carlos Ahenkorah who’s a former Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Madam Cecilia Dapaah being an experienced politician should have known the repercussion of her action.
“Madam Cecilia Dapaah must explain why this matter went to court. You’re politician, if this amount of money is stolen from you why do you go to court? Even if she had this money legitimately, just because of your image, just because of where you are coming from, you don’t allow this to happen to you. Once you go to court, it is public. Did you hear that a Minister’s house got burnt with lots of dollars? Did you hear the amount which was involved? Did you hear that anyone was sent to court? This is not the first case of huge sums of money belonging to politician getting lost. You know that because of your image and the office you occupy, anybody seeing this amount of money in your house it is not correct. So why do you present yourself this way to the public. Lending herself to the public in this manner has not helped her,” Carlos Ahenkora said on Adekye Nsroma on UTV Ghana on Monday.
He quizzed: “Do you know the number of politicians whose monies have gone missing, and they’ve kept quiet about it? Madam Cecilia Dapaah was not politically strategic. When Dr. Obed Asamoah’s money got lost, did you hear that somebody was arrested? Dr. Kwabena Adjei’s own too, did you hear that anybody was taken to court? even Okudzeto Ablakwa’s own which is quite recent, did you hear him dragging anybody to court? Coming out as it were to expose yourself like this, for me, is a challenge.”
Background
Two house helps, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, are currently facing charges in an Accra Circuit Court for their alleged involvement in the theft of huge amount of money owned by Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour.
The Chronicle Newspaper reports that the theft, which involves millions of Ghana Cedis, reportedly occurred at the couple’s residence in Abelemkpe, a suburb of Accra, between July and October 2022.
Patience and Sarah, the accused, are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and multiple counts of theft, involving amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
During the same period, the pair allegedly stole personal items from Cecilia Abena Dapaah, including various clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry valued at US$95,000.
Further accusations involve Patience acting alone to steal six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which belonged to the minister’s husband.
The court has also charged three additional individuals in connection with the thefts. Benjamin, a 29-year-old plumber, is accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, while Kweku Botwe, a 65-year-old trader, faces charges for dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000. Additionally, Malik Dauda, a 23-year-old unemployed individual, is alleged to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.
All five accused individuals appeared before an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Judge Susana Ekuful on Thursday, July 20, 2023. However, their pleas have not yet been taken.
Of the accused, Sarah has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, with two sureties required to deposit their Ghana cards with the court’s registrar. It was clarified that the bail conditions are subject to review by the substantive judge, as Judge Susana Ekuful was serving as a relief judge at the time.
Judge Susana Ekuful revealed in her briefing that Patience, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, has been remanded into lawful custody. However, Sarah was granted bail due to being a breastfeeding mother.
According to the prosecution, Patience, also known as Maabena, previously worked as a house assistant for the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and his wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah. Sarah, too, was a former house assistant for the couple.
The alleged thefts came to light in June of this year when the complainants reported the incidents to the police after discovering missing cash and personal belongings.
Patience was caught in the act, having opened and entered the couple’s room using a duplicate key. Mr. Kuffour apprehended her upon his return home, as he noticed the room was unlocked and heard unusual noises from inside.
Further investigations revealed the stolen items and money in the possession of Patience and her associates.
The accused allegedly used the stolen funds to finance various properties and purchases, including renting a 3-bedroom apartment and a store in Tamale, buying vehicles, and funding personal expenses.
The court has adjourned the case to August 2, 2023, while investigations continue.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM
