Former President John Dramani Mahama has questioned why a minister of state in the Akufo-Addo government would have millions of cedis and other foreign currencies in her house.
In a tweet, Mr Mahama said the act was ‘scandalous’ and was not a good conduct for public office holders.
This follows the alleged stealing of over one million dollars, €300,000 and several millions of Ghana Cedis from the house of the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband by her house helps.
Two house helps of the minister are currently being prosecuted before an Accra Circuit Court over the incident.
“$1m + €300k and millions of GHS in a Ghanaian Minister’s home? Scandalous!! Even if genuinely acquired, why keep millions of hard currency at home? Will @NAkufoAddo [President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo] ever set a good example for public office holders in his administration?” Mahama posted on his Twitter handle.
Meanwhile, Some Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) say it was unlawful for Cecilia Dapaah, to have kept such an amount of money in her house.
Read Also >>> FIRE HER IMMEDIATELY – YUSSIF SULEMANA TO PRESIDENT
Background
Two house helps working for Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei Kuffour are facing charges at an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items worth millions of cedis from the couple’s residence at Abelemkpe in Accra.
The accused individuals, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing.
The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022.
During this period, the house helps allegedly stole personal effects belonging to Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth US$95,000.
Additionally, Ms. Botwe is accused of stealing six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which belong to the minister’s husband.
Furthermore, three other individuals, identified as Ms. Botwe’s current and former boyfriends and her father, are also facing charges for allegedly being involved in the crime. They have been respectively charged with dishonestly receiving GH¢1 million, GH¢180,000, and GH¢50,000.
According to court proceedings, the stolen monies and items belonged to Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, taken from their bedroom in their residence.
The accused individuals were arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Susana Ekuful, on Thursday, July 20, 2023. However, their pleas have not been taken yet.
he court granted bail to Sarah Agyei in the sum of GH¢1 million with two sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana cards with the court’s registrar. The bail conditions are subject to review by the substantive judge, as Susana Ekuful was serving as a relief judge.
On the other hand, Ms. Botwe, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, have been remanded into lawful custody.
The complainants reported the theft case to the police in June 2023 after discovering the missing cash and personal effects. Ms. Botwe was caught red-handed entering the couple’s room with a duplicate key, leading to her arrest.
Further investigations revealed that Patience, with the help of her alleged accomplice Sarah, had hidden the stolen money and used it to purchase properties and expensive items.
Brief facts
According to the amended charge sheet and brief facts presented in court, Ms. Botwe, also known as Maabena, was a house help of the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and his wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The court heard that Ms. Agyei was also a former house help of the complainants. The complainants reported the case to the police in June of this year after detecting the theft of cash and their personal effects.
Ms. Botwe was caught entering the couple’s room with a duplicate key.
Upon entering the room, Mr. Kuffour found Ms. Botwe hiding behind the door.
After the incident, the complainants realized that some of their properties were missing.
Ms. Botwe was arrested and released on police enquiry bail but went into hiding with her boyfriend, Benjamin, in Tamale.
While in Tamale, they allegedly rented a 3-bedroom apartment and a store.
Upon intelligence, the police arrested Ms. Botwe, leading to the retrieval of US$40,000 and GH¢72,619.70 from their apartment.
Ms. Botwe allegedly used the stolen money to buy a 3-bedroom house, a double-decker refrigerator, a water dispenser, a television set, a washing machine, and a chest cooler, among other items.
She also bought a Hyundai Elantra for Benjamin, who later sold it to purchase a Honda Civic.
Ms. Botwe also gave her father GH¢50,000 and GH¢1 million to her ex-boyfriend, Malik.
During interrogation, Ms. Botwe implicated Sarah as her accomplice.
The case is set to continue on August 2, 2023.
