We involved FBI in investigating Cecilia Dapaa – OSP

Special Prosecutor(OSP), Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, has revealed that his office involved the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in investigating the embattled Ms. Cecilia Dapaa.

According to Mr. Agyebeng this cross-border became necessary because the persons in involved claim that part of the seized cash sums were transported from United States of America into Ghana.

Briefing the media at a press conference, Mr. Agyebeng said for that reason, the FBI were involved in a collaborative investigative work on the matter.

“The investigation has been aimed at determining the source(s) of the large cash sums associated with Ms. Dapaah and Mr. Osei-Kufuor. The Office has had the benefit of seven (7) months of in-country and four (4) months of collaborative transboundary investigation. On the totality of the gathered evidence and intelligence, it seems to us that the case is largely in the province of suspected money laundering and structuring,” the statement said.

Read the full statement by the OSP below;

OSP abandons all charges against Cecilia Dapaah, ordered to return confiscated assets.

Good morning members of the media. I warmly welcome you again to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

The Special Prosecutor, considering it necessary to facilitate the investigations, issued a freezing order against the bank accounts and investments of Ms. Dapaah domiciled at Prudential Bank Limited and Societe Generale Ghana.

Upon the refusal by the High Court to confirm the freezing and seizure orders in August 2023, the Office re-seized the cash sums and re-froze the bank accounts and investments and applied to the court again for confirmation in FT0074/2023 The Special Prosecutor v. Cecilia Abena Dapaah & Daniel Osei-Kufour.

Extensive investigation was conducted in-country involving twenty (20) persons and three (3) state institutions, and especially in the Ashanti Region to establish the financial standing of Ms. Dapaah’s deceased brother during his lifetime and at the time of his death.

From October 2023, the investigation became cross-border and transboundary upon the claim by the persons of interest that part of the seized cash sums was transported to Ghana from the United States. For that reason, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States became involved in a collaborative investigative work with the Office on the matter.

The investigation has been aimed at determining the source(s) of the large cash sums associated with Ms. Dapaah and Mr. Osei-Kufuor. The Office has had the benefit of seven (7) months of in-country and four (4) months of collaborative transboundary investigation. On the totality of the gathered evidence and intelligence, it seems to us that the case is largely in the province of suspected money laundering and structuring.

By operation of law, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has a specific and direct mandate in respect of suspected cases of money laundering and its attendant activity of structuring. Consequently, the Office is referring the case to EOCO for continued investigation and further action. The Office will be in close collaboration with EOCO and continued collaboration with the FBI.

A little over an hour ago, the Office discontinued its application that was pending before the High Court for a confirmation of the seizure and freezing orders in pursuance of the referral of the case to EOCO. The Court ordered a return of the seized cash sums and unfreezing of the bank accounts and investments within seventy-two (72) hours.

The Office also discontinued the procedural criminal charge against Ms. Dapaah for failure to return forms on declaration of property and income.