Anti-Corruption Advocate, Edem Senanu, has welcomed the Economic and Organised Crime Office’s (EOCO) renewed interest in the case involving former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
EOCO recently requested a copy of the case docket from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as part of efforts to revisit the high-profile investigation.
Confirming the development at a press briefing in Accra, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stated that EOCO’s new leadership formally requested the docket on May 14, 2025.
In response, the OSP provided a duplicate copy on May 29, 2025.
The OSP originally initiated investigations into Cecilia Dapaah in July 2023, after large sums of cash and other valuables were found in her residence.
Although the probe—conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)—did not uncover immediate evidence linking the funds to corrupt activity, it did reveal signs of suspected money laundering and financial structuring.
As money laundering falls outside the OSP’s direct jurisdiction, the case was referred to EOCO in January 2024.
However, EOCO initially declined to pursue the matter, citing the lack of a predicate offence—such as corruption or fraud—necessary under the law to proceed with money laundering charges.
Now, more than a year later, EOCO’s renewed interest has reignited hopes of accountability.
According to Mr. Agyebeng, the forwarded docket will support EOCO’s independent review and potential re-investigation into aspects that fall within its mandate.
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Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Mr. Edem Senanu described the renewed effort as a step in the right direction.
He criticized the previous administration for abandoning the case, despite compelling discrepancies between the former minister’s official income and the vast sums discovered.
“I think it’s a good development. Many of us were just, were shocked that EOCO refused to fulfill this mandate. The EOCO law clearly had a clause and I stated that on radio and TV that this clause is clear, that when you have an individual who cannot indicate a legitimate source of money, properties and assets, the position is that this money is criminally obtained and therefore the state has the right to seize or take over and hold the persons accountable,” he stated.
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“Madam Cecilia Dapaah couldn’t explain the discrepancy between what she earns as a state official and some of those large sums of money and then EOCO refused to give a consultation to the AG and then dropped the case and that was really, really regrettable. So, it is a good step if the current leadership in the context of the mandate is given by law, take it up and make sure that the right thing is done,” he added.
Mr. Senanu urged EOCO to follow through with a thorough and transparent process to ensure public trust and uphold the principles of justice.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
