Former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah has accused her house helps of stealing from her
Proceedings in the ongoing theft case involving former sanitation minister Cecilia Dapaah on Friday, May 16, 2025, at an Accra High Court, saw the lawyer for the second accused, Sarah Agyei, rigorously questioning Madam Dapaah’s claims about missing jewellery allegedly stolen from her Abelemkpe residence.
The cross-examination, conducted by Augustine Gyamfi, focused on the lack of evidence to substantiate the existence and purchase of the jewellery, which Dapaah claims was part of the items stolen by her former house helps.
The case stems from allegations that Agyei, along with Patience Botwe and six others, stole significant sums of money, including $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghanaian cedis, as well as valuable items like jewellery, between July and October 2022.
During the court session presided over by Justice Marie Louise Simmons, Augustine Gyamfi challenged Cecilia Dapaah’s witness statement, which detailed the jewellery as part of a collection amassed over 30 years.
Gyamfi pressed Dapaah on whether she could provide receipts or other documentation to prove the purchase of the jewellery, suggesting that without such evidence, the court could not verify the items’ existence.
Cecilia Dapaah maintained that she could potentially provide some records for newer purchases but admitted difficulty in securing documentation for older items.
The lawyer further highlighted that no photographs of Madam Dapaah wearing the jewellery at events were submitted to the court, casting doubt on her claims.
The cross-examination also touched on Agyei’s employment history with Dapaah.
The former minister confirmed that Agyei worked for her for five years before leaving due to pregnancy, after which Botwe, the first accused, was employed.
Gyamfi sought to establish whether Dapaah had any knowledge of a prior arrangement between Agyei and Botwe to commit the theft, to which Dapaah responded that she was not privy to any such plans or conversations.
The session concluded with a warning from Justice Simmons to the defence counsel to ensure they are prepared to complete their cross-examination at the next hearing.
In a separate development, the prosecution withdrew an application filed on April 23, 2025, seeking to freeze properties allegedly purchased by the accused with the stolen funds. The judge struck out the motion as withdrawn.
Police investigations have previously identified properties, including a three-bedroom house in Amrahia and two Honda Acura cars, allegedly bought with the stolen money. The accused face charges of conspiracy, stealing, money laundering, and dishonestly receiving stolen funds.
The case has been adjourned to May 22, 2025, for the continuation of the cross-examination.
GA/BAI
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