Former Central Regional Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs, says the controversary surrounding former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, over missing cash from her home, has dealt a big blow to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Allotey Jacobs argues that the former minister has easily handed over the NPP to the NDC to be devoured due to her decision to take the issue of her missing funds to the police.
According to him, she should have thought twice of being the complainant in the case currently before the court as she is a leading member of the NPP.
He also cited the current economic crisis exacerbated by the ruling government as another reason Madam Dapaah should have made her husband, Daniel Osei-Kufuor, a sole complainant in the case and not a co-complainant.
“It is the fault of Cecilia Dapaah herself. For me, I won’t be nice to her. This is a collateral damage to the NPP. She is a leading member of the party once she is a cabinet Minister.
“A situation like this, she might be rich, I don’t know her background, but not this situation. You go and report to the police. She should have let her husband lodge the complain that my house helps stole from me, not you
“You are a politician and you know when these things come out, knowing currently what is happening in the country, then the opposition has vowed that whatever means it will take propaganda to win, then you give them the knife to stab your party at the back,” he said in an interview on Peace FM Kokroko Show with Kwame Sefa Kayi on Friday, July 28.
He likened the current situation of Madam Cecilia Dapaah to the Woyome case in 2015\2016 where the NDC government was trolled by the NPP, who then was in opposition.
“This is a collateral damage and opposition has taken up because of what happened in 2015 and 2016. It came to a point that Woyeme, Woyeme, gargantuan “mon ky3 nni” to wit “loot and share”.
That same music is being played back to you in another form,” he stated.
Woyome saga
Businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome was paid GH¢51 million for helping Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.
The Auditor-General’s report released in 2010 said the amount was paid illegally to him.
The report resulted in nationwide controversy, with operatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were in government during the CAN 2008 tournament claiming Woyome did no work to be paid that whopping sum of money.
The then Attorney-General, Joe Ghartey, said Woyome was contracted to help in raising money for the construction of the stadia but he failed to meet the deadline.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered that properties belonging to Alfred Agbesi Woyome in the controversial GH¢51 million judgment debt paid to him to be sold.
Cecilia Dapaah robbed?
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are reported to have been robbed by two of their house helps in their home in Abelemkpe, Accra.
The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei are said to have undertaken their operation between July and October 2022.
At an Accra Circuit Court, Patience and Sarah are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which include amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
Clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000 were reportedly stolen as well.
Three other individuals have also been charged in connection with the theft being investigated.
29-year-old plumber, Benjamin, is accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, whereas Kweku Botwe, a 65-year-old trader, has been charged for dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000.
The third, Malik Dauda, 23, who is unemployed, is said to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.
It is alleged that the accused 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 other personal expenses.
In court on Thursday, July 20, Judge Susana Ekuful granted Sarah bail in the amount of GH¢1 million with two sureties.
The court has adjourned the case to August 2, 2023.
Consequence of theft case
Cecilia Abena Dapaah on July 23, 2023, resigned from her position following pressure from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament after it was revealed that she had lost millions of dollars and cedis in her home.
On July 24, 2023, she was arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over suspicions of corruption and corruption-related offences, revolving around the alleged theft of significant amounts of money and valuable items from her residence in Accra.
She has been granted bail and the OSP is still investigating the matter.