Private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has praised Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, for his decision to accuse former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah; and her husband of money laundering.

According to him, Kissi Agyebeng could have turned a blind eye to the possibility of the former minister engaging in money laundering because his office was only investigating her for corruption.

Kpebu, who was reported to have made these remarks, according to a myjoyonline.com report, said that the Special Prosecutor deserves commendation for blowing the whistle on Cecilia Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kufuor.

“If anything at all, we should be commending Kissi Agyebeng exceedingly. We should be giving a high round of applause to Kissi Agyebeng for blowing the whistle that, hey, this thing looks like money laundering.

“You know, he could have just kept quiet. 'I am mandated to do corruption; I did not find corruption and corruption-related offences, so case closed.' But as he was saying case closed, he also said, 'But I see money laundering,' so we have to applaud Kissi Agyebeng and the OSP for a yeoman’s job,” he is quoted to have said.

About Cecilia Dapaah’s Case:

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) closed its case against the former minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kufuor, who were accused of corruption and corruption-related offences after two of their house helps allegedly stole $1 million and €300,000 in cash, along with other valuable items from their residence in Abelemkpe.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, concluded that his office lacked the authority to prosecute or take further action against the former minister and referred the case to EOCO.

The referral was based on the suspicion that the large sums of money found at Cecilia Dapaah’s properties and bank accounts could be the proceeds of a money laundering and structuring scheme.

However, EOCO returned the dockets on the case following advice by the Office of the Attorney General that "The OSP's referral to EOCO for investigations into money laundering is without basis."

Attorney General Godfred Dame also said that there was no evidence of corruption or procurement breaches against the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and her husband.

Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has forwarded a petition for the removal of Kissi Agyebeng as Special Prosecutor to the Chief Justice.

The petition, dated April 30, 2024, was presented to the president by the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, and was relayed to Justice Gertrude Torkornoo on May 6, 2024.

Amidu was reported to have cited procurement irregularities in the acquisition of vehicles for the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and alleged misconduct involving judges and the administration of justice.

Additional accusations encompass the infringement of citizens' rights through arrests and detentions, breaches of the right to information, and the inappropriate appointment of staff to the office.

In accordance with Article 146 of the Constitution, the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, is currently assessing whether there is sufficient initial evidence to constitute a committee for Agyebeng's potential impeachment.

She has reportedly asked the Special Prosecutor to respond to the issues raised in the petition.

BAI/AE

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