Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has welcomed the move by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to reopen the case involving former Minister of Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah,
Kpebu said that he had always insisted that EOCO should take over the case and ensure the money is recovered.
“That is good, we are also in court. We have sued that EOCO can do it… the law is very clear that you don’t need a predicate offence,” he said on KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, June 7.
EOCO’s move follows a fresh request from its new leadership, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has disclosed.
At a press conference in Accra on Monday, June 2, 2025, Mr Kissi Agyebeng said the docket has been forwarded to EOCO based on the OSP’s strong indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, beyond the direct mandate of the OSP.
He said it was the new leadership of EOCO that asked for the docket and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) responded by forwarding a duplicate of the case file for review and possible investigation.
According to the OSP, “The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) commenced investigation in July 2023 in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items involving Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her associates.”
“After nearly seven months of extensive investigation by the OSP and a parallel inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, no direct and immediate evidence of corruption was found in respect of seized funds and frozen bank accounts linked to Ms Dapaah and her associates though the investigation identified strong indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, beyond the direct mandate of the OSP.”
“In January 2024, the OSP referred the case to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for commencement of investigation into the identified indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, which are under the direct mandate of EOCO.”
“EOCO returned the entire docket back to the OSP on the back of their reasoning that since money laundering is not a substantive offence but a collateral offence which must be founded on a predicate offence, EOCO did not have a mandate to commence investigations into the matter since it could not premise its investigation on any predicate offence.”
“By a letter dated 14 May 2025, the new leadership of EOCO requested the OSP to forward the docket back to EOCO for a review and commencement of investigation.”
“Under the cover of communication dated 29 May 2025, the OSP forwarded a duplicate docket of
the case back to EOCO.”
“It is our considered opinion that the docket serves as a valuable background resource for EOCO to commence its own investigation in respect of aspects of the case the OSP does not have a direct mandate.”
“The OSP would lend its full collaborative support to EOCO in its review and investigation and probable further action,” Mr Agyebeng added.
Background
In 2023, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) commenced investigations in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items involving Ms. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her associates.
After nearly seven months of investigation by the OSP and a parallel inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, no direct and immediate evidence of corruption was found in respect of seized funds and frozen bank accounts linked to Ms. Dapaah and her associates.
The OSP however said the investigation identified strong indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, beyond the direct mandate of the OSP.
In January 2024, the OSP referred the case to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for commencement of investigations into the identified indications of suspected money laundering and structuring – which are under the direct mandate of EOCO.
In May 2024, EOCO returned the entire docket back to the OSP on the back of their reasoning that since money laundering is not a substantive offence but a collateral offence which must be founded on a predicate offence, EOCO did not have a mandate to commence investigations into the matter since it could not premise its investigation on any predicate offence.
He said under the cover of communication dated May 29, 2025, the OSP forwarded a duplicate docket of the case back to EOCO.
He said It is the considered opinion of the OSP that the docket serves as a valuable background resource for EOCO to commence its own investigation in respect of aspects of the case the OSP does not have a direct mandate.
