Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo has criticised Sam Okudzeto, a member of the Council of State, for his assertion that the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, has committed no crime by keeping large amounts of both domestic and foreign currencies in her house.

Domelevo indicated that it is unfortunate that the Council of State member would make such a comment, myjoyonline.com reports.

He said that even if the former minister did nothing illegal, keeping such money at her home raises serious concerns which should worry every Ghanaian.

The former auditor-general also pointed out that the minister keeping such amounts of money at her home while the government she was a part of was urging Ghanaians to take their money to financial institutions speaks volumes.

"I find it unfortunate... my position will not be based on law, but at least being a public figure and a leader in government talking about ensuring that we all use the financial sector, keeping that amount of money in the house may not be legally wrong, but I think it is questionable," he is quoted as having said on Joy News' Upfront on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

What Sam Okudzeto said:

Veteran Ghanaian lawyer Sam Okudzeto, reacting to the brouhaha surrounding the investigation of Cecilia Dapaah, who has been accused of corruption and money laundering after two of her house helps were charged with stealing more than $1 million; €300,000 in cash and other valuable items from her residence in Abelemkpe, slammed the critics of the former minister.

According to him, no law criminalises the stashing of cash at home; hence, she cannot be accused of wrongdoing without providing evidence to back the claims. He stated that Ghanaians have not been fair to the former sanitation minister, as many have made harsh criticisms of her after it emerged that she had been keeping large sums of money in her house.

"The question is, if you come, and you find money with me, do I owe any duty to you to explain whose money it is? When nobody has complained that I have stolen their money, over a million, what difference does it make? Foreign currency?

"Look, Ghanaians are not honest people. When you see all these huge buildings that they are building, nobody asks them where they got the money from, when they started it, or when it was completed. Nobody does," he said in an interview with TV3 and monitored by GhanaWeb.

He asserted that no law bars individuals from stashing money at home until substantial evidence is provided.

"Do lawyers convict people on circumstantial evidence? When you go to the criminal court, you must establish the issues beyond all reasonable doubt. That's what the criminal law says. The criminal law is not based upon suspicion or mere allegation," he added.

BAI/SEA

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