High Court Orders Release of Key Documents in Cecilia Dapaah Theft Case1 min read
Accra High Court has mandated the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to disclose crucial investigation documents related to former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah and her husband.
These documents are essential for Patience Botwe, a former house help accused of stealing substantial sums from Dapaah’s home.
The controversy erupted in July 2022, when Dapaah reported the theft of $1 million and €300,000 by four individuals, including Botwe. The OSP’s investigation uncovered $590,000 and GH₵2,730,000 in properties tied to Dapaah and her spouse.
Despite Botwe’s legal team seeking access to Dapaah’s statements under the Right to Information Act, the OSP initially denied the request, citing exemptions. However, the High Court intervened, stating that these documents are vital for Botwe’s defense, and ordered the OSP to provide them within a week.
Justice Marie-Louis Simmons emphasized the importance of the documents for effective cross-examination of Dapaah and her husband, especially in light of inconsistencies in their testimonies about the origin of the allegedly stolen funds.
The court reaffirmed the right of the accused to access pertinent information, as protected by Article 19(2)(e)(g) of the 1992 Constitution.
The release of these documents could greatly influence the trial’s trajectory, enabling Botwe’s attorneys to rigorously challenge Dapaah’s statements. The OSP’s resistance to this request raised significant concerns regarding transparency and fairness in the proceedings.
Earlier this year, the High Court had ordered the OSP to return seized funds belonging to Dapaah within 72 hours, and the OSP had previously prosecuted Dapaah for failing to register her assets before withdrawing the case.
