After news of a theft case involving two of her domestic workers broke the internet, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, who recently resigned as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, faced intense criticism and public backlash over the past week.
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.
These alleged thefts took place between July and October 2022.
During this period, the house helps allegedly stole personal belongings of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, which included assorted clothes and an amount of money allegedly valued over $1 million, kept at her residence.
The majority of public perception leans towards the belief that the money kept at the former minister’s home is likely ill-gotten wealth.
However, there are a few public figures who stand in defense of Cecilia Dapaah, arguing that she may not be involved in any sinister activities.
Below is a list of individuals who have shown strong support for Cecilia Dapaah amid the allegations.
Lawrence Kwesi Botchway Jnr
A member of the NPP National Communications, Lawrence Kwesi Botchway Jr., denied all allegations that Cecilia Dapaah acquired her money through stealing from the government. He asserts that the issue has been exaggerated and that the minister’s husband, a very successful architect and businessman, is the rightful owner of around 70% of the funds.
“The money was not stolen on a day. The money was actually stolen in bits in 2019. All the money does not belong to Madam Cecilia Dapaah. About 70% of the money belongs to the husband of Mad. Dapaah, who is an accomplished business mogul,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Clement Wilkinson
During a discussion on Accra-based UTV and monitored by GhanaWeb on Saturday, July 22, 2023, about how Cecilia Dapaah came by such money, Clement Wilkinson, the Ga West Municipal Chief Executive Officer opined that the said stolen money US$1m, €300K, GH¢350k could have been funded from funeral donations.
“Someone was asking why she has such an amount of money in her room. You see, for about a year now, mama Cecilia Dapaah has lost two relatives; her big brother died and we went for the funeral as well as her mother,” he said.
“When my brother was speaking, he mentioned that she has gone to work for a company for 40-something million dollars and that the company has also taken 40-something million dollars. I really cannot tell but maybe at the funeral grounds, the company alone donated $2 million as their funeral contribution,” he added.
Mr.Logic
Entertainment pundit Mr Logic has defended Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, in the midst of the ongoing allegations of stolen monies from her home. Mr Logic criticized Ghanaians on the said issue for what he called hastily labelling the former minister as a thief and argued that the poverty-stricken mindset prevalent in the country tends to misconstrue luxury and wealth as ill-gotten gains.
“If someone wants to save his or her money at home, whether the money is for a project or family money or something, you don’t know, then all of a sudden, all of you are tagging her as a thief. Look, I posted that people should look for their own money and stop criticizing others’ wealth, come and see insults on my page, I have to turn off the comment session. I have realized that in Ghana, the poverty mindset dominates, and people want to be poorer than to live a good life,” he said.
He added, “The woman is not a thief, it is her own money that people have stolen and she wanted to be honest because she is a public official so she has stepped down for investigations …I don’t see why people should think that it is outrageous for her to have that money, I see it just like George said, I see it like a bit myopic to think that way, and so please I don’t support those who are saying she stole the money”.
The former minister resigned from her position on July 22, stating that she did not want the government to be burdened with her personal issues. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has accepted her resignation.