OSP insists Cecilia Dapaah not cleared of corruption by FBI

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has said reports suggesting that former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has been cleared of corruption allegations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are misleading and should be dismissed.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the OSP said recent media publications misrepresented its findings and wrongly claimed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had found no evidence against her.

According to the OSP, its official half-yearly report did not state that Ms. Dapaah was free of wrongdoing. Instead, it said that investigations found “no direct and immediate evidence of corruption,” a narrowly defined legal term. This, the OSP stressed, is very different from declaring “no evidence of corruption” or stating that she “has been cleared.”

These reports are inaccurate and a mischievous misrepresentation of the OSP’s Half-Yearly Report (page 9, bullet 2.26). 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 report clearly indicated that no direct and immediate evidence of corruption was found – a carefully defined legal standard that is materially different from the blanket phrases as “no evidence” and “has been cleared,” the statement highlighted.

The statement explained that the case was initially referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after OSP investigators uncovered strong signs of suspected money laundering and financial structuring, matters that fall within EOCO’s direct mandate. However, the previous EOCO leadership did not act and returned the docket to the OSP. The new EOCO leadership has since requested and received the docket again.

The OSP urged journalists and media outlets to report carefully and stick to the wording of official documents, especially on matters of high national interest.

“The OSP urges all media outlets to report with precision and fidelity to the text of official documents to ensure accurate, fair, and responsible public communication on matters of high national interest,” the statement said.

Beyond the Cecilia Dapaah matter, the OSP revealed that it is currently investigating 67 major cases of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving state institutions, private companies, and high-profile individuals. The cases cut across key sectors including mining, aviation, education, payroll administration, procurement, health, sports, utilities, and land management.

The half-yearly update highlighted the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) as one of the most significant cases under probe. The OSP is examining payments related to Agyapa Royalties, small-scale mining initiatives, lithium and gold projects, board expenditures, and several contracts signed between 2020 and 2024. Entities under scrutiny include Asante Gold Corporation, ElectroChem Ghana Limited, Goldridge Ghana Limited, and others.

Several state institutions are also under investigation. These include:

Ghana Airports Company Limited: The OSP is probing operations and contracts signed between 2020 and 2024.

Ghana Education Service: Investigators are looking into the large-scale sale of appointment letters to teachers and possible laundering of proceeds.

National Service Authority: Suspected corruption in the recruitment of personnel between 2020 and 2024 is being examined.

Ministry of Health: A contract with Service Ghana Auto Group for the supply and servicing of 307 Mercedes-Benz ambulances is under review.

National Cathedral Project: The OSP is investigating procurement processes, payments by former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta, and spending by the Cathedral Secretariat.

Tema Oil Refinery: Contracts and management activities involving Tema Energy and Processing Limited between 2020 and 2024 are being scrutinised.

Electricity Company of Ghana: The OSP is probing the cancellation of a network improvement project with Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).

The OSP, together with the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, has started a corruption risk assessment into government payroll administration. Investigations are also ongoing into illegal mining (galamsey), targeting the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Forestry Commission, and the now-dissolved Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM). Companies such as Akonta Mining Limited and some foreign nationals are also under probe.

The National Sports Authority is being investigated over questionable contracts awarded to companies including Acoma Green Consult, Wanschie Car Rentals, and Bobina Solutions.

The OSP explained that this cautious approach protects the privacy of individuals and businesses, prevents unnecessary stigma, and ensures investigations are handled fairly.