The soap opera surrounding the Cecilia Dapaah stolen cash debacle does not seem to die down anytime soon as a new angle to the story emerges every day, with every new angle causing a more public outcry. In sharp contrast, however, emerging details appear to provide some level of consolation to the ordinary Ghanaian.
Recall President Nana Akuffo Addo’s acceptance letter to the resignation letter of the embattled minister was greeted with massive condemnation.
The tone of the letter did not sit well with the public as them, pre-exonerates Madam Cecilia Dapaah, and weakens any investigation into the matter by relevant state institutions. This comment ” I am confident, like you, that, at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established” was what broke the camels.
But news just coming in indicates that Akuffo Addo’s first reaction and subsequent actions are contrary to what he is judged by the public for. According to renowned journalist, Manasseh Azure, His Excellency was furious when he first heard about the Cecilia Dapaah saga.
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The president, who the journalist revealed was by then in Rome, said he did not expect any other than Cecilia Dapaah to drag the reputation of his government to the mud in that manner. He, therefore, decided to have her sacked when he returned from Rome.
Nana Akufo Addo, according to Mannaseh Azure, later decided to change his mind about sacking the former Water and Sanitation Minister himself. He subsequently instructed her through the Chief of Staff to tender in her resignation letter. Manasseh Azure explained further that it was consequently a result of this pressure from the head of state that compelled Madam Cecilia Dapaah to eventually step aside.
“The president was in Rome when the news broke. Information I have is that he got very angry and said Cecilia Abena Dapaah shouldn’ t be disgracing his government this way. And further calls were made to Ghana, and by Saturday morning, the information I had was that the president had decided to sack her when he returned. But later in the day, he changed his mind and instructed the Chief of Staff to call her and ask her to tender in her resignation, failure to do so, she would be fired” he said.
If this account by Manasseh Azure is anything to go by, then Ghanaians have unfairly condemned the president. Many Ghanaians have said the acceptance letter from the president is a clear indication that he has not seen anything wrong with the actions of Madam Cecilia Dapaah, and hence he is ready to “clear” her as usual, even before any constitutionally mandated body finishes with its investigations. This has proven to be untruth by the revelations of Manasseh Azure.
