Joyce Bawah Mogtari, a Special Aide to former President John Mahama, has expressed skepticism over the discovery of large sums of money and foreign currencies stashed at the residence of Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah. In a tweet on Friday, Mogtari questioned the appropriateness of such conduct for a public office holder, terming it scandalous.
Mogtari also raised concerns about the alleged amassing of scarce state resources by President Akufo-Addo and his appointees. She called into question whether the President would have the moral authority to take appropriate action in response to the situation.
Former President John Mahama has already voiced his concerns, questioning the reasons behind the Sanitation Minister keeping US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghanaian Cedis at her home. He deemed the Minister’s conduct scandalous and called for a thorough investigation.
The background of the case includes an ongoing trial in the Accra Circuit Court, where the prosecution has accused two house helps – Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei – of being involved in the alleged theft of large sums of money and personal belongings from the Minister’s residence. The thefts are reported to have occurred between July and October last year.
The accused individuals are facing charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which involve significant amounts of US dollars, Euros, and Ghanaian Cedis. The stolen items also include personal belongings of Cecilia Dapaah, such as clothes, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry.
Further accusations involve one of the house helps, Patience, allegedly stealing six pieces of Kente cloth and six sets of men’s suits belonging to the Minister’s husband.
The case has raised significant public concern and underscored the importance of accountability and transparency in public office. As investigations continue, there is a growing demand for a comprehensive and fair examination of the matter to uphold the principles of governance in Ghana.