The Communications Director of Ghana’s governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has expressed concerns about the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) handling of the suspected corruption case involving former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister Cecilia Dapaah. Ahiagbah suggested that the OSP seems more focused on gaining media attention than on conducting a thorough investigation to gather the necessary evidence for pressing charges.
During an appearance on JoyNews’ Newsfile program on Saturday, September 2, Ahiagbah urged the Special Prosecutor to concentrate on his responsibilities and avoid unnecessarily tarnishing individuals’ reputations. He stated, “I think the Special Prosecutor has been very untidy with this whole case and getting its lungs filled with the oxygen of public interest in the matter and it’s affecting how it should approach this matter. He should take less interest in the media and focus on his job.”
A similar sentiment was echoed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, who criticized the OSP for alleged negligence in handling the case. Ayariga argued that the OSP had not fully complied with its legal obligations regarding the seizure and freezing of accounts related to the former Minister. He asserted, “The law says apply for confirmation of the seizure within seven days, and I am saying that the Special Prosecutor did not do that. He didn’t do that. He has been negligent, and he is trying to throw dust into our eyes by issuing this long convoluted statement.”
The controversy surrounding Cecilia Dapaah’s case emerged after the Financial and Economic Division of an Accra High Court ordered the OSP to return all seized funds from the former Sanitation Minister and required compliance within seven days. The court also expressed uncertainty about the freezing of Dapaah’s bank accounts and other assets.
In response, the OSP released a statement expressing respect for the court’s decision but disagreement with it due to alleged errors in the court’s computation of time limitations. The OSP clarified that the freezing order was not based on public sentiment but on court processes filed in a criminal matter involving Dapaah as the complainant. The statement emphasized that the freezing order was intended to facilitate the ongoing investigation, as mandated by law, and that the investigation was still in progress.
The investigation centers on allegations of corruption and corruption-related offenses against Cecilia Dapaah, stemming from the discovery of over $1 million in her residence.