Cecilia Dapaah Breaks Down As House Assistants Loot Home Of $1 Million, €300,000, And Millions Of Ghana Cedis.
Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah
Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, faced a shocking revelation as it came to light that their home in Abelemkpe, Accra, was robbed of an estimated $1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis. The alleged thieves, Patience Botwe (18) and Sarah Agyei (30), are currently undergoing trial at an Accra Circuit Court for their suspected involvement in the theft.
The accused individuals are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and multiple counts of stealing. The alleged theft is said to have taken place between July and October 2022. Patience is also accused of enlisting her current and former boyfriends, along with her father, in the series of robberies.
Court documents reveal that the stolen items include personal belongings of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, such as clothing worth GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry valued at $95,000. Additionally, during the same period, Patience allegedly stole six pieces of Kente clothes valued at GH¢90,000 and six sets of men’s suits worth $3,000, belonging to the minister’s husband.
Following the shocking theft at the home of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, further charges have been brought against individuals accused of receiving stolen property. Benjamin, a plumber (A3), faces charges of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, while Kweku Botwe (A4), a trader, has been charged with receiving GH¢50,000, and Malik Dauda (A5), who is currently unemployed, has been charged with receiving GH¢1 million.
All five individuals, including the alleged thieves Patience Botwe and Sarah Agyei, appeared before the Accra Circuit Court, with Judge Susana Ekuful presiding, on July 20, 2023. Sarah, being a nursing mother, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢1 million, while Patience and her alleged accomplices were remanded into custody.
According to local newspaper reports, the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and Cecilia Abena Dapaah, reported the theft to the police in June of this year after discovering the missing cash and personal effects. It was revealed that Patience, also known as Maabena, had worked as a house help for the couple, while Sarah had previously been employed by them.
The charges against the alleged receivers were initiated after Patience was caught entering the complainants’ room using a duplicate key. Mr. Kuffour, upon returning home and hearing a noise from the bedroom, discovered Patience hiding there, which led to a subsequent investigation revealing the extent of the stolen items.
Patience and her boyfriend, Benjamin, managed to evade arrest initially and fled to Tamale, where they rented a 3-bedroom apartment and a store at considerable expense. However, the police eventually caught up with them, leading to the discovery of US$40,000 and GH¢72,619.70 during a search of their rented apartment. Patience also purchased a US$70,000 3-bedroom house in Amrahia and furnished it with various new household items, allegedly using part of the stolen money.
During interrogation, Patience implicated Sarah as her partner in the crimes. It is alleged that Patience would act as a lookout at the main gate while Sarah entered the couple’s room to steal. Subsequently, Sarah was arrested at Budumburam, and it was revealed that she had used her share of the stolen money to build a 3-bedroom house at the location where she was apprehended.
The court has adjourned the case until August 2, 2023.