Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo has criticised Sam Okudzeto, a member of the Council of State, for asserting that former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, committed no crime by stashing substantial amounts of both local and foreign currencies in her residence, according to myjoyonline.com.
Domelevo expressed disappointment in the Council of State member’s remarks, highlighting that even if the former minister’s actions weren’t unlawful, the decision to house such funds raises significant concerns that should concern all Ghanaians.
He also emphasised the contradiction of the minister holding large sums of money at her home while the government she was part of encouraged citizens to deposit their money in financial institutions.
“I find it unfortunate… my position will not be based on law, but at least being a public figure and a leader in government talking about ensuring that we all use the financial sector, keeping that amount of money in the house may not be legally wrong, but I think it is questionable,” he is quoted as having said on Joy News’ Upfront on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Veteran Ghanaian lawyer Sam Okudzeto, reacting to the brouhaha surrounding the investigation of Cecilia Dapaah, who has been accused of corruption and money laundering after two of her house helps were charged with stealing more than $1 million; €300,000 in cash and other valuable items from her residence in Abelemkpe, slammed the critics of the former minister.
According to him, no law criminalises the stashing of cash at home; hence, she cannot be accused of wrongdoing without providing evidence to back the claims. He stated that Ghanaians have not been fair to the former sanitation minister, as many have made harsh criticisms of her after it emerged that she had been keeping large sums of money in her house.
“The question is, if you come, and you find money with me, do I owe any duty to you to explain whose money it is? When nobody has complained that I have stolen their money—over a million—what difference does it make? Foreign currency?
“Look, Ghanaians are not honest people. When you see all these huge buildings that they are building, nobody asks them where they got the money from, when they started them, or when they were completed. Nobody does,” he said in an interview with TV3.
He asserted that no law bars individuals from stashing money at home until substantial evidence is provided.
“Do lawyers convict people on circumstantial evidence? When you go to the criminal court, you must establish the issues beyond all reasonable doubt. That’s what the criminal law says. The criminal law is not based upon suspicion or mere allegation,” he added.