EOCO found no evidence of money laundering against Cecilia Dapaah - Godfred Dame

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has refuted claims that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) failed to follow the directive from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the former Minister of Water and Sanitation, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, for allegations of money laundering.

During a panel discussion on the Newsfile program on JoyNews, aired on Saturday, May 4, 2024, Godfred Dame clarified that EOCO had conducted a thorough investigation into the allegations against Cecilia Dapaah.

According to the documents available to his [Dame] office, EOCO did not find substantial evidence to proceed with the case and thus sought guidance from the A-G's office.

"EOCO carried out an investigation into the money laundering allegations and concluded there was no evidence to move forward. They communicated in their correspondence that after reviewing the case file and their findings, they could not substantiate any money laundering claims against Cecilia Dapaah," he stated.

Godfred Dame urged for careful consideration of the topic, pointing out that the OSP, not his office, had absolved Cecilia Dapaah of corruption charges.

"This decisively resolves the matter. Regarding the funds found in Madam Cecilia Dapaah's residence and the confiscated amounts, there was no direct or immediate proof of corruption. This exoneration comes from the OSP, who cleared Madam Cecilia Dapaah of any corruption," the Attorney-General remarked.

He emphasized that the OSP, tasked with probing corruption and related offenses, conducted a comprehensive investigation and exonerated Madam Cecilia Dapaah of corruption.

The Attorney-General elaborated that the OSP's referral to EOCO was explicitly about money laundering, as detailed in the OSP's letter.

"The money laundering allegations pertained to certain financial transfers from the United States. The OSP specified that the investigation should focus on the funds allegedly brought into Ghana from the U.S. as the basis for the money laundering probe," he explained.

This statement comes in response to concerns voiced by some Ghanaians and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) after the Attorney-General advised EOCO against pursuing money laundering inquiries into Cecilia Dapaah's dealings.

The Attorney-General's office disclosed that the dossier handed to EOCO comprised the OSP's forwarding letter, the action diary, statements from the investigation, and communications from the OSP to entities such as the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and banks.

EK/MA