Attorney General Counsels EOCO Against Money Laundering Investigation into Cecilia Dapaah’s Case

The Attorney General’s Office and Ministry of Justice have recommended against a money laundering investigation into the affairs of Cecilia Dapaah, the former Sanitation Minister, by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO).

This advice is based on the Attorney General’s Office’s determination that the Special Prosecutor’s request for EOCO to initiate a money laundering investigation into Dapaah’s affairs lacks foundation.

The Special Prosecutor’s Office made this request after concluding that the case involving over 1 million dollars found in the former minister’s house, which was discovered by its officers, did not fall under its jurisdiction but instead raised money laundering concerns.

This information was disclosed by the Special Prosecutor’s Office following several months of joint investigation with agencies such as the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation.

However, upon EOCO’s request for advice on the matter, the Attorney General’s Office found that the Special Prosecutor’s Office had not submitted the collaborative investigation report to EOCO and had also not responded to EOCO’s request for its findings.

The Attorney General’s Office noted that the docket presented to EOCO only included the Special Prosecutor’s letter transmitting the docket, the diary of action, statements taken during the investigation, and letters written by the Special Prosecutor to other institutions like the CID and Banks as part of the inquiry.

Upon analyzing the docket, the Attorney General’s Office found that the Special Prosecutor’s Office had not made any corruption or corruption-related findings against Cecilia Dapaah.

The Attorney General’s Office believes that the key to a money laundering charge is gains obtained from criminal proceeds resulting from illegal activity.

The Attorney General’s Office concludes that without any criminal issues associated with the properties of the NPP Politician, there is no basis for a money laundering investigation.

While acknowledging EOCO’s authority to investigate Cecilia Dapaah’s affairs despite its findings, the Attorney General’s Office advised against it.

This advice is based on the fact that the Special Prosecutor’s Office has directed the Ghana Police Service to investigate the sources of the funds found at Cecilia Dapaah’s home.