Ghana Minister Resigns After Her Staff Was Found With Cash Stolen From Her Home

Ghana’s Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, tendered her resignation on Saturday following allegations of embezzlement by her former household staff.

In a letter addressed to President Nana Akufo-Addo, Dapaah denied any wrongdoing but stated that she did not want the matter to distract the government from its duties.

The scandal came to light on Friday when two ex-household staff members appeared in court, accused of stealing cash and personal belongings from the minister and her husband between July and October 2022. Prosecutors claimed that the stolen money was used to purchase properties and a vehicle and was even shared with relatives.

Reports in the media about the alleged theft of $1 million, 300,000 euros, and millions of local cedis from Dapaah’s residence sparked public outrage on social media, with many questioning the source of such significant sums of money in a country grappling with corruption scandals involving some government officials.

Dapaah maintained that the figures reported in the news did not accurately represent what was reported to the police. Despite her denial, pressure mounted on her to step down from her position.

The presidency accepted Dapaah’s resignation, commending her past work without directly commenting on the accusations. Dapaah had been serving as the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources since 2017 when President Akufo-Addo assumed power, and she was retained in the position after his re-election in 2021.

President Akufo-Addo had previously vowed to tackle corruption in his government, and this incident adds to the scrutiny on the administration’s efforts to uphold transparency and integrity. As the situation unfolds, the nation will be watching closely for any further developments in the investigation and the appointment of a new sanitation minister. (CONTINUE READING HERE)