Special Prosecutor Withdraws Charges Against Cecilia Dapaah, Orders Return of Seized Assets

Reports coming in indicate that the Special Prosecutor has decided to drop its application to confirm the seizure and freezing of funds and bank accounts belonging to Cecilia Dapaah, the former sanitation minister. The decision also includes abandoning the criminal trial initiated against her for allegedly failing to declare her assets.

This move follows a series of confidential hearings on the matter, with the Special Prosecutor holding onto funds seized during a search of Dapaah’s residence as part of ongoing investigations. Bank accounts linked to Dapaah were also frozen over suspicions of corruption-related activities.

Cecilia Dapaah had encountered delays in her attempts to prompt the Special Prosecutor to confirm or deny the actions taken against her. These delays stemmed from an appeal filed at the court of appeal challenging an earlier ruling and a certiorari application related to the decision to expedite the hearing of the initial confirmation application.

Further complications arose when the presiding judge had to take leave, leading to the appointment of a new judge to oversee the case. Subsequently, the proceedings shifted to closed-door sessions after the initial open court hearing.

Following a recent in-chamber hearing on January 25, sources close to the legal teams disclosed that the Special Prosecutor’s office has opted to withdraw the case against Cecilia Dapaah. While the exact reason for this withdrawal remains undisclosed, it has been reported that the judge has given the Special Prosecutor a 72-hour ultimatum to release Dapaah’s seized properties.