Cecilia Dapaah case: I will reopen investigation into alleged acts of corruption - Mahama

Former President John Mahama has expressed his discontent with the outcome of the investigation into the alleged acts of corruption involving the former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.

The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022.

Read also: How househelps blew millions stolen from Cecilia Dapaah’s home

Responding to the matter on the referral of the Special Prosecutor to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for a money laundering investigation, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice advised the EOCO against initiating money laundering investigations into the dealings of former Sanitation Minister.

The Attorney General's office emphasised that the key to pursuing money laundering investigations lay in the capacity to prove that financial gains were obtained from criminal proceeds arising from unlawful activity.

Read also: OSP’s request for money laundering probe against Cecilia Dapaah baseless – AG advises EOCO

The Attorney General's office also advised against EOCO investigating the source of Cecilia Dapaah's funds, citing that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) had been tasked to take charge of that aspect of the case.

On the back of this, the flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress for the 2024 general elections disapproved of the developments regarding the matter.

In a post on X on Thursday, May 2, he said that his government would reopen investigations into the "alleged acts of corruption and graft" in the former Sanitation Minister's case.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Ghana Integrity Initiatives (GII), Mary Awelana Addah says the EOCO could have conducted a more thorough investigation into the case of former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah.

According to her, while EOCO may rely on the AG's office for legal advice, it could have continued its investigation independently until it was necessary to seek advice for prosecution.

She said that EOCO should have pursued the investigation to its logical conclusion before consulting the Attorney General's Office.

“But then it is what it is; it is very unfortunate; let me not mince words at all.