By Morkporkpor Anku

Accra, June 3, GNA- The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) under its new leadership has requested for the docket of Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah, a former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources.

Mr Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor said EOCO has requested from the OSP for the docket to be forwarded back to it for review and commencement of investigation.

Mr Agyebeng said this during a press briefing to update the media on some fours cases being investigated by the OSP.

He said the OSP commenced investigation in July 2023 in respect to suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money and other valuable items involving Ms. Dapaah and her associates.

He said after nearly seven months of extensive investigation by the OSP and a parallel enquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States, no direct and immediate evidence of corruption was found in respect to funds and closing bank accounts linked to Ms. Dapaah and her associates.

The Special Prosecutor said though the investigation identified strong indications of suspected money laundering and extraction beyond the direct mandate of the OSP.

He said in January 2024, the OSP referred the case to the EOCO and OSP for commencement of investigation into identified indications of suspected money laundering and extraction, which were under the direct mandate of the EOCO.

Mr Agyebeng said in May 2024, the EOCO returned the entire docket to the OSP on the back of their reasoning that since money laundering was not a substantive offence but a collateral offence which must be founded on a predicate offence, the EOCO does not have a mandate to commence investigations into the matter since it would not premise its investigation on any predicate offence.

“Under the cover of communication dated May 29 2025, the OSP forwarded the duplicate docket of the case back to EOCO,” he added.

He said it was their considered opinion that the docket served as a valuable background resource for EOCO to commence its own investigation in respect of aspects of the case the OSP does not have a direct mandate.

“The OSP will lend its full collaborative support to EOCO in its review and investigation of the unprobable further action,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mr Andy Thomas Owusu, the second accused person in the case between the Republic against Charles Bissue and another has negotiated a plea bargain with the OSP, which has been filed in court.

Mr Agyebeng said the OSP on April 28, 2025, filed criminal charges against them in respect of 15 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.

He said the processes in respect of the plea bargain, which were restitutive and reparative in nature, would be concluded in court in the coming days.

“Special Prosecutor accepted Andy Thomas Owusu’s offer of restitution and reparation to the Republic on the following considerations in accordance with Section 7214 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act 2017, Act 951,” he said.

He said Mr Owusu’s level of cooperation exhibited during the investigation was commendable.

GNA

Edited by Samuel Osei- Frempong