Attorney General Says EOCO’s Money Laundering Probe into Cecilia Dapaah is Unfounded

The Attorney General and Ministry of Justice have advised against initiating money laundering investigations into the activities of former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

This decision comes after the Attorney General’s office determined that the request made by the Special Prosecutor’s office to EOCO for money laundering investigations into Cecilia Dapaah’s affairs lacked a legal basis.

The Special Prosecutor’s office had requested the money laundering investigations following the discovery of over $1 million and other valuables at the former minister’s residence.

However, the Attorney General’s office found that the case did not fall within the Special Prosecutor’s mandate but instead raised money laundering concerns.

The Attorney General’s office, after reviewing the case, noted that the Special Prosecutor did not submit the collaborative investigation report to EOCO or respond to requests from EOCO for the findings.

The docket presented to EOCO contained only the Special Prosecutor’s letter transmitting the docket, the diary of action, statements, and letters to other institutions involved in the inquiry.

According to the Attorney General’s office, the Special Prosecutor did not find any evidence of corruption or corruption-related offenses against Cecilia Dapaah.

They emphasized that the crux of a money laundering charge lies in gains from criminal proceeds, which were not evident in this case.

Despite EOCO’s powers to launch its investigation into Cecilia Dapaah’s affairs, the Attorney General’s office advised against it.

This advice was based on the Special Prosecutor’s instruction to the Ghana Police Service to investigate the source of funds found at Cecilia Dapaah’s residence.