The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has officially returned the docket on the Cecilia Dapaah case to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), following a formal request from EOCO’s new leadership. The move is to allow EOCO to initiate investigations into aspects of the case that fall outside the OSP’s statutory jurisdiction.
According to the OSP, EOCO sought the return of the docket for review and possible action. In response, the OSP forwarded a duplicate docket on May 29, 2025, and pledged its full cooperation in EOCO’s investigation, particularly into suspected money laundering and financial structuring.
“It is our considered opinion that the docket serves as a valuable background resource for EOCO to commence its investigation in respect of aspects of the case, the OSP does not have a direct mandate,” the OSP said.
The case, involving former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her associates, began in July 2023 after large sums of cash and valuables were discovered at her private residence.
Although a seven-month joint investigation by the OSP and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) yielded no direct evidence of corruption, the OSP said it uncovered strong indicators of suspected money laundering and structuring. Consequently, the case was referred to EOCO in January 2024.
At the time, EOCO declined to take up the matter, arguing that money laundering is a collateral offence that requires a predicate offence—which the OSP had not established.
With new leadership in place, EOCO has since reversed its earlier position and is now proceeding with its own investigation. The OSP has reaffirmed its readiness to fully support EOCO in the ongoing probe and any related legal processes.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
