OSP Refutes Claims of FBI Clearing Cecilia Dapaah in Corruption Probe
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed as false and misleading reports suggesting that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found no evidence of corruption and subsequently cleared former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
In a public notice issued Tuesday, August 19, the OSP said certain media outlets had inaccurately reported that the FBI “found no evidence of corruption” or “no direct evidence of corruption,” while others went further to publish that the Bureau had cleared Ms. Dapaah altogether.
“These reports are inaccurate and a mischievous misrepresentation of the OSP’s Half-Yearly Report. The findings were the result of investigations conducted by the OSP and a parallel aspect by the FBI at the instance of the OSP,” the statement stressed.
According to the OSP, its report only indicated that “no direct and immediate evidence of corruption was found,” a defined legal standard which it said is materially different from blanket phrases such as “no evidence” or “cleared.”
The OSP further explained that its investigations uncovered strong indications of suspected money laundering and structuring, which fall directly within the mandate of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). The case was initially referred to EOCO under its previous leadership, which returned the docket without action. However, the OSP noted that the docket has since been resubmitted to EOCO upon a request by the new leadership.
The anti-graft office cautioned media outlets to exercise accuracy and fairness in their reportage on sensitive national matters, urging fidelity to official documents “to ensure accurate, fair, and responsible public communication.”
Ms. Dapaah came under public scrutiny in July 2023 after large sums of foreign and local currency were discovered in her residence, triggering multiple corruption-related investigations.
