The former minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has promised to avail herself to any probe to establish the facts of the issue that led to her resignation on Saturday.
According to her, the investigation would exonerate her and also confirm her integrity during her public service.
“I intend to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them to fully establish the facts. I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the processes, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service, and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours,” she said in her resignation letter.
The letter, dated July 22, 2023 signed by the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources and addressed to President Akufo-Addo, thanked him for giving her the opportunity “to serve our beautiful nation, Ghana.”
Prior to thanking the President, she had stated “emphatically” that the figures being bandied around are not the correct representation of what she and her husband reported to the police.
However, not oblivious to the uproar news from a person in her position could generate, she has decided to lay down her tools, so the matter does not preoccupy the government.
“Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position.
“I am resigning, therefore, because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of the government and a hindrance to the work of the government at such a crucial time,” she explained.
PRESIDENT ACCEPTS RESIGNATION
President Akufo-Addo accepted the resignation “with considerable regret.” He thanked the former minister for her contribution and devotion to the progress of the government and the nation.
The President applauded “her loyalty to the image and standing of the government” and also expressed confidence that the integrity of the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, will be established.
PROBE
The former Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency seems to have asked for what some Ghanaians are questioning government to do, since news broke from the court.
Several people have called for an investigation into the source of the said money, alleged to have been stolen from her residence at Abelemkpe, Accra.
The Special Prosecutor, for instance, has been called upon to take up the matter, reminding the office that it did not need a petition to do so, according to the law that established it.
The minority in parliament took a bite at the issue and urged the Minister “to voluntarily step aside” to allow for a thorough independent investigation.
According to the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who made a post on his Facebook page, the minority could not overlook such a development that has the potential to undermine the very principles “of probity, accountability and transparency in our governance.”
He opined that, given the magnitude and gravity of the situation, it was essential that an immediate and impartial investigation be carried out to ascertain the source and legitimacy of the funds.
BACKGROUND
Two House helps of Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour are before an Accra Circuit Court for allegedly stealing monies and personal items from the room of the couple.
The two and three other accused persons were put before an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Susana Ekuful, on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
Their pleas were not taken, but Sarah has been admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢1 million with two sureties.
The sureties are to deposit their Ghana Cards with the Registrar of the court.
The case is adjourned to August 2, 2023.
Â
