President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has applauded former Sanitation and Water Resources Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, for her "loyalty to the image and standing of the government."

The Minister resigned from her position on Friday, July 22, after reports emerged that she had stashed huge sums of money in her home, part of which had been stolen by two house helps who are now facing prosecution alongside other accomplices.

In her letter addressed to the President, Madam Dapaah noted that she decided to step down because she did not want this matter “to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government.”

Without a direct comment on the incident that triggered the Minister’s resignation, the President praised her for her “excellent” service during her tenure in office.

“I have received your letter, dated Saturday, 22nd July 2023, resigning from office as Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources and as a member of the Government.

“It is with considerable regret that I accept your resignation, and I applaud your loyalty to the image and standing of the Government.

“The work you undertook during your period in government was excellent and productive, and I thank you for your wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of the Government and the Nation,” she applauded the former minister.

The President further expressed confidence in the integrity of Madam Dapaah while wishing her the best in her endeavours.

“I am confident, like you, that, at the end of the day, your integrity, whilst in office, will be fully established.”

It is unclear whether the President’s comment about the Minister’s integrity is in defence of her conduct in the midst of the allegations of possible wrongdoing, or that it was simply a parting comment after her years of public service.

Already, critics have accused the president of constantly shielding his appointees accused of corruption, to the point of earning the name tag “clearing agent.”

For this reason, the acting Executive Director of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, Mary Awelana Addah, says President Akufo-Addo has an opportunity to redeem his image by taking a critical decision on the minister.

The President has been criticised over the confidence he expressed in the integrity of the former Sanitation Minister. 

The latest to take on the President for his comments is the Special Aide to former President John Dramani Mahama. 

Should we accept the resignation of Ghana’s #Sanitationminister as the solution to the conundrum of stolen money please! Our president @NAkufoAddo has endorsed this act of corruption by praising her loyalty and “fidelity to” this corrupt gov!

— Joyce Bawah Mogtari (@joyce_bawah) July 23, 2023

Joyce Bawa Mogtari believes President Akufo-Addo's actions indicate that corrupt behavior within his government has his tacit approval.

According to her, the comments will now embolden other appointees of his government to loot more from the state.