Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister of sanitation and water resources, after being detained by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), was subsequently granted release with surety late Monday night at about 10:20 p.m.

After being held by the OSP for several hours following searches at both her private home in Abelemekpe and official housing in Cantonments, she was eventually freed. The searches had to do with the alleged $1 million housekeeper theft that prompted her resignation on Saturday.

Mrs. Dapaah was transported to her official residence in Cantonments earlier on Monday, July 24, 2023, when OSP agents conducted a thorough search. The Special Prosecutor’s office then sent agents to search her Abelemekpe home.

At this time, no specifics about the arrest and searches have been made public. However, according to reports, the OSP is likely to brief Ghanaians soon regarding the arrest and the results of the search activities.

More of Mrs. Dapaah’s family, according to sources, will reportedly be questioned as part of the ongoing inquiry.

The disclosure of income and property papers have also been served on her, demonstrating the gravity of the accusations.

Given her prior position as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs. Dapaah’s detention and the ensuing search operations definitely caught the attention of the country. Ghanaians are curious and concerned about the issue, and they are eagerly expecting the OSP’s formal declaration on the matter.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor, which was founded to combat corruption and associated offenses, has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the values of accountability and transparency.

All Should Rejoice Over Cecilia Dapaah’s Outrageous Wrongdoing

Martin Kpebu, a private attorney, believes Ghanaians should be jubilant over Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s controversy.

He claimed that was the case because the matter had exposed the disgraceful actions of several government officials.

“In actual fact, the first thing we should be celebrating is the fact that God gave us such a case. You see how President Akufo-Addo has been denying that there is no corruption and God has handed us this case, we should be celebrating.
“…I am excited because we have had a case where we have seen big money, that so far is looking like there can’t be any plausible explanation. So, it brings excitement until she can displace the excitement…So let’s start celebrating.”
Martin Kpebu

Meanwhile, the Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) is requesting that the nation’s anti-corruption organizations take the initiative in the battle against corruption.

According to CDD-Ghana, the approach of having anti-graft organizations act as a result of public outrage is not the best.

Director of Programs and Advocacy at the CDD, Dr. Kojo Asante said the OSP was forced to act before searching and arresting Cecilia Dapaah and searching her residence.

“The only reason why we are here is because there was a public outcry before the system responded And that seems to be the pattern. And so, if you don’t get a media person exposing corruption, political actors or investigators don’t take action.”
Dr. Kojo Asante