The Accra High Court will decide on the continuation of asset freezing by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah.
The OSP has requested for the court to validate its asset freeze order on Cecilia Dapaah’s properties.
According to a document from the OSP : “Confirmation of the seizure by the Office of the Special Prosecutor of the property of the Respondent upon the grounds contained in the accompanying affidavit and for any further order(s) as the court may deem fit.”
The High Court has scheduled August 17, 2023, for the confirmation or rejection of the OSP’s asset freeze action against Dapaah.
On August 9, 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor froze Cecilia Dapaah’s bank accounts and assets containing millions of dollars and cedis.
The OSP has initiated the process to have this administrative freeze officially endorsed by the court, following its powers to administratively freeze accounts.
Confirmation from the court is required to extend the freezing of accounts and assets beyond the initial period.
The case concerning the asset freeze is expected to be heard next week.
In the meantime, reliable sources suggest that substantial amounts of US dollars and Ghana cedis were discovered in various bank accounts of the former minister.
Additionally, funds were retrieved from her residences during a search by the OSP.
Documents obtained from court sources reveal that the OSP has filed a motion to seize the money retrieved from the searches.
Cecilia Dapaah has been under scrutiny after an alleged theft at her residence in Abelemkpe, Accra.
Her domestic staff is accused of stealing over one million dollars and other valuables belonging to her and her husband.
The OSP’s investigation is separate from the police and the Attorney General’s investigations into the matter.
The OSP is focusing on corruption-related offences, while the police and the AG’s office are prosecuting those implicated in stealing funds related to the former minister.