An Accra High Court has ordered the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to return the former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah’s seized properties and funds.
The office, led by Kissi Agyebeng, has been given seven days to carry out the order.
The court, presided over by Justice Edward Twum, said it identified no justifiable reasons for the OSP to freeze Cecilia Dapaah’s accounts.
According to the judge, the OSP erred in exercising its powers to search the former minister’s residence.
Also, the court ruled that the OSP had violated conditions that must be met before issuing orders to seize properties believed to be “suspected tainted property” linked to corruption.
Again, the OSP had failed to adhere to the statutory requirement of filing the application within seven days.
Justice Twum explained that the seizure orders were executed on July 24, while the application was filed on August 8, clearly exceeding the legally mandated seven-day period.
It will be recalled that the OSP had taken steps to freeze the bank accounts and funds of Mrs Dapaah, encompassing both local and foreign currencies, under the provisions of section 38 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
This precautionary measure was taken pending a comprehensive investigation into allegations of corruption and corruption-related offences.
The OSP’s decision to freeze the accounts followed a directive issued to two banks, instructing them to suspend Mrs Dapaah’s access to her accounts and investments until the order is officially revoked.
Aside from the funds in her accounts, US$590,000 and GH¢2.730,000 were also recovered from her residence on July 24.