Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ The arrest of Ghanaian government minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah has caused a sensation in the country. The 68-year-old former minister of sanitation and water resources is accused of having a significant amount of money stolen from her residence. The court charge sheet mentions a “cash sum” of $1 million, 300,000 euros, and 350,000 Ghana cedis, along with personal items such as handbags worth $35,000 and jewelry valued at $95,000.
The allegations have outraged many in Ghana, especially as the country’s currency, the cedi, has been losing value rapidly, and authorities blame dollar hoarders for the currency’s woes. The revelation that a government minister might have held such large amounts of foreign currency herself has caused public anger.
Ms. Dapaah has denied the figures given in the court document, but public pressure mounted, leading to her resignation as a government minister to avoid distracting from the government’s work. Despite her resignation, she was arrested and is being questioned by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which deals with corruption allegations against high-level officials.
The case revolves around a burglary at Ms. Dapaah’s home, where two domestic workers are accused of being involved. One allegedly acted as a look-out, while the other is accused of stealing the cash and other valuable items. During the investigation, it was discovered that the accused individuals went on extravagant spending sprees with the stolen money, purchasing properties, household items, and cars.
The situation has drawn attention to corruption and accountability in the Ghanaian government, and Ms. Dapaah’s political future hangs in the balance as the special prosecutor investigates the allegations. President Nana Akufo-Addo’s response to the situation has disappointed anti-corruption campaigners, as it appeared to pre-judge the outcome of the investigations and express confidence in Ms. Dapaah’s integrity while in office.
As the case unfolds, many Ghanaians are closely watching to see how justice will be served, and whether the government will take decisive actions to address corruption within its ranks.
