The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has accused the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) of displaying a lack of interest in investigating the money laundering charges leveled against former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah.
After conducting an in-house probe into the money laundering charges of Cecilia Dapaah, the OSP forwarded its docket on the former Minister to EOCO for onward action.
However, the EOCO’s Executive Director, Maame Yaa Tiwa Addo-Danquah disclosed that steps were being taken to return the docket to the OSP, this came after the Attorney General had advised EOCO not to investigate the case as it would only be duplicitous to do so.
According to Madam Addo-Danquah, whatever EOCO would have done had already been directed at the police CID, emphasizing that EOCO can do nothing further concerning the case.
However, Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications at the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), countered that EOCO is deliberately showing no enthusiasm for investigating and prosecuting the former Minister, suggesting a lack of willingness to hold Cecilia Dapaah accountable for her actions.
“The second point I want to make is this whole idea that the docket that the OSP sent to EOCO was baseless and if you will indulge me, I am going to be a bit detailed, although we are not supposed to do this, but our point is that if there is no appetite to want to investigate and prosecute, tell the people of Ghana that there is no appetite but don’t try to put the blame on the OSP”.
Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications, OSP
Furthermore, Samuel Appiah Darko indicated that the Attorney General’s claim that the OSP had cleared Cecilia Dapaah of any offense is also inaccurate.
He stressed that the Office of the OSP has never exonerated Cecilia Dapaah, as a clearance implies that an investigation has been conducted and concluded that no wrongdoing or offense has occurred.
As such, he noted that the OSP has not made any such determination in her case, leaving the possibility of wrongdoing still under consideration.
EOCO Returns Docket To OSP
Furthermore, Samuel Appiah Darko disclosed that EOCO has already returned the docket on former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, emphasizing that EOCO’s assertions that it intends to return the docket are untrue as the docket has already been returned.
“They have long returned the docket to us with an explanation that they have been advised by the AG [Attorney General] not to investigate but remember, we did not say to prosecute, [we said to] investigate and so I don’t understand why EOCO will say they are now going to return the docket to OSP.”
Samuel Appiah Darko, Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications, OSP
Moreover, Mr. Darko vehemently dismissed allegations that the OSP’s referral to EOCO was baseless, contending that EOCO’s assertion was a thinly veiled attempt to deflect attention from its lack of interest in pursuing the case.
He emphasized that by blaming the OSP, EOCO is essentially trying to shift the focus away from its inaction and disinterest in investigating the matter further.
However, EOCO continues to maintain its stance, reiterating that it concurs with the Attorney General’s position that when an investigation yields no evidence of wrongdoing, law enforcement agencies should demonstrate the courage and transparency to publicly declare that no crime has been committed, rather than perpetuating unnecessary scrutiny and speculation.
Meanwhile, the public is sharply divided over the Attorney General’s guidance to EOCO to drop the investigation.
While some citizens are skeptical, believing that the Attorney General is shielding a political ally from accountability, others see his action as a legitimate exercise of his advisory role to the government and its agencies, aimed at ensuring that investigations are grounded in evidence.
However, the OSP must expedite the conclusion of the Cecilia Dapaah money laundering investigation as soon as possible, to put the matter to rest and bring clarity to the public.
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