Two househelps working for Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are facing charges at the Accra circuit court for allegedly stealing monies and items worth millions of cedis from the couple’s residence in Abelenkpe, Accra.
The accused individuals, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei, are charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing. The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022.
During this period, the house helps allegedly stole personal effects belonging to Cecilia Abena Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GHC95,000, and handbags, perfumes and jewellery worth US$95,000.
Additionally, Botwe is accused of stealing six pieces of kente cloth worth GHC90,000 and six sets of men’s suits valued at US$3,000, which belong to the minister’s husband.
Furthermore, three other individuals, identified as Botwe’s current and former boyfriends and her father, are also facing charges for allegedly being involved in the crime. They are respectively charged with dishonestly receiving GHC1 million, GHC180,000 and GHC50,000.
According to court proceedings, the stolen monies and items belonged to the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and her husband, taken from their shared bedroom in their residence.
The accused individuals were arraigned before the Accra circuit court, presided over by Judge Susana Ekuful, on Thursday 20 July 2023. However, their pleas have not yet been taken.
Judge Susana Ekuful granted bail to Sarah Agyei in the sum of GHC1 million with two sureties. The sureties are required to deposit their Ghana Cards with the court’s registrar. The bail conditions are subject to review by the substantive judge, as Judge Ekuful was serving as a relief judge.
On the other hand, Botwe, along with her alleged boyfriends and father, has been remanded into lawful custody.
The complainants reported the theft case to the police in June this year after discovering the cash and personal effects were missing. Botwe was caught red-handed entering the couple’s room with a duplicate key, leading to her arrest.
Further investigations revealed that Patience, with the help of her alleged accomplice Sarah, had hidden the stolen money and used it to purchase properties and expensive items.
The case is adjourned to 2 August 2023 as the court continues its proceedings to determine the fate of the two accused.
Brief facts
According to the amended charge sheet and brief facts presented in court, Ms Botwe, also known as Maabena, was a househelp of the complainants, Daniel Osei Kuffour and his wife, Cecilia Abena Dapaah.
The court heard that Agyei was also a former househelp of the complainants. The complainants reported the case to the police in June this year after detecting the theft of cash and their personal effects.
Botwe was caught entering the couple’s room with a duplicate key.
Upon entering the room, Kuffour found Botwe hiding behind the door.
After the incident, Kuffour and Dapaah realised that items of their property were missing.
Botwe was arrested and released on police inquiry bail but went into hiding with her boyfriend, Benjamin, in Tamale. While in Tamale, they allegedly rented a three-bedroom apartment and a store.
Upon intelligence, the police arrested Botwe, leading to the retrieval of US$40,000 and GHC72,619.70 from their apartment.
Botwe allegedly used the stolen money to buy a three-bedroom house, a double-decker refrigerator, a water dispenser, a television set, a washing machine and a chest cooler, among other items.
She also bought a Hyundai Elantra for Benjamin, who later sold it to purchase a Honda Civic.
Botwe also gave her father GHC50,000 and GHC1 million to her ex-boyfriend, Malik.
During interrogation, Botwe implicated Sarah as her accomplice.
The case is set to continue on 2 August 2023.
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