High Court Orders OSP to Provide documents to Cecilia Dapaah's Househelp for Defence in Theft Case-Accra

The High Court has directed the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to furnish Patience Botwe, a former house help of Cecilia Dapaah, with some documents collected during its investigation of her.

This order comes as Miss Botwe faces charges of theft brought against her by Madam Dapaah and her husband.

Miss Botwe’s legal team argued that the investigation caution and charge statements as well as recordings and transcripts of interviews and interrogations of Cecilia Dapaah and her husband collected by OSP during investigations are crucial for mounting an effective defence, particularly in cross-examining key witnesses, including Dapaah and her husband.

Initially, they sought access to these documents through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, but the OSP rejected their request, arguing that the information sought was exempt and could compromise ongoing investigations.

Following the OSP's refusal, Miss Botwe's lawyers turned to the High Court for assistance. The court said the documents requested for are relevant to help the accuse mount a defence citing article 19(2)(e)(g) of the 1992 Constitution.

The Court directed the OSP to provide her with only the caution statement and any charge statement, if applicable. However, the court denied Botwe and her legal team access to the recordings and transcripts of interviews and interrogations.