Claim: Former President Akufo-Addo sacked Cecilia Dapaah over stolen dollars scandal
Source: Mumuni Mohammed Nurudeen, MP, Nalerigu/Gambaga Constituency
Verdict: False
Researched by Nusrat Essah
The Member of Parliament for Nalerigu/Gambaga Constituency, Mumuni Mohammed Nurudeen claimed former President Akufo Addo sacked Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, over a corruption scandal.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse programme on May 15, 2025, while addressing the Sammy Gyamfi dollar gift saga, the MP said:
“If you look at the former minister Cecilia Dapaah case, His Excellency, the former president, sacked her and referred her to the appropriate institution, and later she was cleared for no wrongdoing.” (Watch from 13 mins: 34 secs to 13 mins: 46 secs)
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Background
In July 2023, under the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration, a scandal emerged involving Cecilia Dapaah after two of her domestic staff were arrested and charged with stealing large sums of money and other valuables from her private residence in Accra in October 2022.
The revelation sparked public debate over why such huge amounts of cash were stored in her home, which the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) subsequently commenced investigations into her financial activities.
But, did Akufo-Addo sack Cecilia Dapaah?
Fact-Check
Amidst public pressure and media scrutiny, Cecilia Dapaah voluntarily tendered her resignation on Saturday, July 22, 2023.
In her resignation letter addressed to President Akufo-Addo, she partly wrote: “I write to inform you that I wish to resign from my position as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources.
“It has been a great privilege and honour for me to have been given the opportunity to serve in your government and an even greater honour to have worked to try and bring your great vision for our country to fruition.”
Akufo-Addo, on the same day, accepted the resignation of Cecilia Dapaah as the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.
In his acceptance letter dated July 22, 2023, he wrote: “I have received your letter, dated 22nd, July 2023, resigning from office as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources and as a member of the Government. It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation, and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the Government.”
The timeline and content of her resignation letter, and the acceptance by the then President, confirm she stepped down of her own accord not sacked.
Was Cecilia Dapaah cleared as claimed?
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after a series of court appearances on the case, issued a statement on January 25, 2024, indicating that the case has been referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for further investigation.
“On the totality of the gathered evidence and intelligence, it seems to us that the case is largely in the province of suspected money laundering and structuring.
“By operation of law, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has a specific and direct mandate in respect of suspected cases of money laundering and its attendant activity of structuring. Consequently, the Office is referring the case to EOCO for continued investigation and further action. The Office will be in close collaboration with EOCO and continued collaboration with the FBI, ” the statement said.
However, in a subsequent development, the OSP revealed that the EOCO could not take up the case due to the absence of a predicate offence.
“On 3 May 2024, EOCO returned the docket to the OSP, citing a directive by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice that EOCO could not take up the matter for investigation owing to what the AG claims is the absence of a predicate offence. The OS would continue to monitor the channels of the indicated large sums of money”, the release reads.
No final determination has been made about her being cleared or otherwise. Meanwhile, the former minister and her husband continue to appear in court in the substantive case involving her two househelps and other suspects.
Verdict
Therefore, the claim that Cecilia Dapaah was sacked by former President Akufo-Addo is false.
NB: GhanaFact has reached out to the MP via Facebook Messenger with our findings. This report will be updated once he responds to our message.
