The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) claims it has complied with the High Court’s order to release the money it seized from Cecillia Dapaah and subsequently lifted the ban on her financial assets.
The OSP has however made a U-turn to seize the money and freeze her accounts and investments again to help with the investigation into how they were acquired. The OSP released a statement on Tuesday, September 5, saying that it had unfrozen the accounts and investments of the former minister of sanitation and water resources and returned the seized monies.
According to the OSP, the money was given back to her in the presence of her lawyers. “The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has complied with the ruling and order of the High Court, Accra dated 31 August 2023 by unfreezing the frozen bank accounts and investments of Cecilia Abena Dapaah.”
“The OSP has also returned the seized cash sums of Ms. Dapaah in the presence and assent of Ms. Dapaah and her lawyers.”
“The satisfaction by the OSP of the order of the High Court terminates the proceedings of the seizure of the cash amounts from Ms. Dapaah commenced on 24 July 2023 and the freezing of her bank accounts and investments effected from 26 July 2023,” parts of the statement reads.
While this was going on, the OSP said it re-seized the funds since the former minister of sanitation and water resources has given different explanations as to who was actually the rightful owner of the money.
After the OSP previously froze her accounts and seized her money, the court ruled that the OSP had improperly sought confirmation of the seizure from the court. The OSP has informed the public that it will seek confirmation of the seizure in accordance with the law this time around.
“Consequently, subsequent to the indicated ruling and order of the High Court and the compliance by the OSP with said ruling and order, the Special Prosecutor considers that freezing the bank accounts and investments of Ms. Dapaah is necessary to facilitate the ongoing investigation.”
“Therefore, the Special Prosecutor has invoked his statutory power under section 38(1) of Act 959 and regulation 19(1) of L.I. 2374 by directing the freezing of the bank accounts and investments of Ms. Dapaah effective 5 September 2023.”
“Further, subsequent to the indicated ruling and order of the High Court and the compliance by the OSP with said ruling and order, the Special Prosecutor considers that he has reasonable grounds to suspect that the cash amounts seized from and returned to Ms. Dapaah is tainted property and it is necessary to exercise the power of seizure to prevent the concealment or loss of said cash amounts.”
“Therefore, the Special Prosecutor has again invoked his statutory power under section 32(1)(a) of Act 959 by directing the seizure from Ms. Dapaah of the cash amounts previously seized from her. Authorized officers of the OSP have seized said cash amounts from Ms. Dapaah.”
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