The resignation of Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah as the Sanitation Minister has been accepted by President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The minister resigned on July 22 following the rancour surrounding the revelation that she kept millions of money in her room which were stolen by her househelps.
“The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has accepted the resignation from office of Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources and member of Government,” Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin has announced.
President is said to have acknowledged Madam Dapaah’s wholehearted contribution to government.
“President Akufo-Addo applauded Hon. Cecilia Dapaah’s loyalty to the image and standing of his Government, and thanked her also for her wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of Government and the Nation. He wished her the best in all her endeavours,” Mr. Arhin stated on his verified Facebook wall on Saturday.
According to the statement, the President will soon appoint a new Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.
The media landscape since July 21 has been awash with reports of how the minister’s $1 million, €300,000 and millions of cedis were stolen from her Abelemkpe residence by two househelps.
The househelps and their accomplices are currently standing trial at a circuit court in Accra.
Though Madam Dapaah prior to her resignation issued statement that there were inaccuracies in the figures being bundled around, but felt short in stating the actual amount involved.
The Minister stressed, “I am taking steps to examine the origins of the inconsistencies and will provide a detailed response in the coming days.”
She also explained in her resignation letter: “I am resigning therefore, because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time.”
Background
An Accra Circuit Court has been told that huge sums of money and other items of Sanitation Minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour have been stolen from their Abelemkpe home.
According to the prosecution, the thefts happened between July and October last year.
The Chronicle newspaper reports that two house helps – Patience Botwe, 18, and Sarah Agyei, 30 – are currently facing charges before the Court for their alleged involvement in the theft.
The accused persons are facing one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, involving amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
According to the same report, the pair during the same period allegedly stole the personal belongings of Cecilia Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery valued at US$95,000.
Further accusations involve Patience acting alone to steal six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which belonged to her husband.
Three additional persons have also been charged in connection with the thefts.