Former President John Mahama reacted to the revelation that a minister under the current administration was keeping $1 million, €300k and millions of Ghanaian Cedis at home. Madam Cecilia Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources hauled her two house helps Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei, 18 and 30 years respectively before the courts on various charges of theft.
The two are accused of stealing the personal belongings of the minister including clothing, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth US$95,000. Ms Botwe’s current and former boyfriends and her father are also facing charges for their involvement in the crime. The trio are charged with dishonestly receiving GH¢1 million, GH¢180,000 and GH¢50,000 each. However, the two prime suspects, Ms Botwe and Sarah Agyei are charged with five counts of stealing.
Also, Ms Botwe is accused of stealing six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000 which belonged to Mr Daniel Osei Kuffour, husband of the minister. The suspects were arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court on Thursday, July 20, 2023, for the crimes allegedly committed between July and October 2022.
Sarah Agyei was granted bail by the court in the sum of GH¢1 million with two sureties who are to deposit their Ghana Cards at the court’s registry. Ms Botwe and the three other accused persons were, however, remanded in lawful custody. The substantive charge will review the bail terms granted by Susana Ekuful who sat as a relief judge.
Mahama’s reaction to the stolen cash of Cecilia Dapaah
Former President Mahama just like many other Ghanaians reacted to the incident as he was astonished by the amount of cash kept by the minister. He wondered why a minister would keep such a huge sum of money even if it was her hard-earned cash.
Mahama tweeted “$1m + €300k and millions of GHS in a Ghanaian Minister’s home? Scandalous!! Even if genuinely acquired, why keep millions of hard currency at home? Will @NAkufoAddo ever set a good example for public officeholders in his administration?”
Brief facts of the case
According to the amended charge sheet and brief facts presented in court, Ms Botwe, also known as Maabena, was a house help of the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and his wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The court heard that Ms Agyei was also a former house help of the complainants. The complainants reported the case to the police in June of this year after detecting the theft of cash and their personal effects.
Ms Botwe was caught entering the couple’s room with a duplicate key.
Upon entering the room, Mr Kuffour found Ms Botwe hiding behind the door.
After the incident, the complainants realized that some of their properties were missing.
Ms Botwe was arrested and released on police enquiry bail but went into hiding with her boyfriend, Benjamin, in Tamale.
While in Tamale, they allegedly rented a 3-bedroom apartment and a store.
Upon intelligence, the police arrested Ms Botwe, leading to the retrieval of US$40,000 and GH¢72,619.70 from their apartment.
Ms Botwe allegedly used the stolen money to buy a 3-bedroom house, a double-decker refrigerator, a water dispenser, a television set, a washing machine, and a chest cooler, among other items.
She also bought a Hyundai Elantra for Benjamin, who later sold it to purchase a Honda Civic.
Ms Botwe also gave her father GH¢50,000 and GH¢1 million to her ex-boyfriend, Malik.
During interrogation, Ms Botwe implicated Sarah as her accomplice.
The case is set to continue on August 2, 2023.
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