Martin Kpebu Urges Attorney General to Prosecute Cecilia Dapaah Over Corruption Allegations.

Renowned private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, has called on the Attorney General (AG), Dr. Dominic Ayine, to take legal action against former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Dapaah, over her unexplained wealth. According to Kpebu, Cecilia Dapaah has failed to provide substantial proof regarding the source of her vast sums of money, which has been a subject of national debate.

Speaking on The Key Points program on TV3 on Saturday, March 15, 2025, Kpebu criticized the Attorney General’s approach in prosecuting Dapaah’s house help, Patience Botwe, instead of the former minister. He argued that the inconsistencies in Dapaah’s explanations regarding the source of her wealth warrant a direct prosecution against her.

Martin Kpebu highlighted how Cecilia Dapaah gave conflicting accounts during the investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Initially, she claimed the money was from her business ventures, particularly in the cosmetics industry. However, when these claims were scrutinized, they did not hold up under investigation.

Later, Dapaah shifted her explanation, stating that the funds were part of an inheritance from her late brother, who was a shoemaker. This claim also faced strong opposition, with the shoemaker’s family threatening legal action against her for making such statements. Faced with mounting scrutiny, she eventually retracted this claim.

Kpebu questioned why the former minister is not facing trial while her house help is being prosecuted. “The Attorney General, Dr. Ayine, should discontinue the trial of Patience and instead prosecute Cecilia Dapaah. Based on OSP’s investigations, Cecilia Dapaah cannot explain the source of the money. This is a serious issue, and she should be the one standing trial,” he emphasized.

The case against Cecilia Dapaah began in 2023 when two of her domestic workers, Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei, were accused of stealing large sums of money from her residence. The stolen amount allegedly included:
• $1 million
• €300,000
• Several million Ghana cedis
• Personal belongings worth thousands of cedis and dollars

The alleged theft took place between July and October 2022. Other individuals charged in connection with the case include a plumber, a trader, a mechanic, and an excavator operator.

The incident was reported to the police in June 2023 after the minister and her husband discovered the missing cash and valuables. The matter gained widespread public attention when Patience Botwe was caught attempting to enter the couple’s bedroom with a duplicate key, leading to her immediate arrest.

Following the revelations, Cecilia Dapaah faced intense criticism from Ghanaians, with many questioning why a government official had such huge sums of money stored in her home. The public outrage led to her resignation as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources.

Despite her resignation, concerns over the source of her wealth persisted, prompting investigations by the OSP. The Special Prosecutor froze some of her bank accounts and seized funds found in her properties as part of ongoing corruption investigations.

With Martin Kpebu now pushing for the prosecution of Cecilia Dapaah, public pressure on the government to take decisive action against corruption is expected to rise. Many Ghanaians believe that the former minister must be held accountable if she cannot explain the origin of her wealth.

As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the Attorney General will heed Kpebu’s call and take legal action against Cecilia Dapaah. The public continues to demand justice and transparency in handling corruption cases involving high-profile government officials.