Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, who resigned over the weekend after her houseworkers allegedly stole more than $1 million in cash from her home, has been arrested for suspected corruption, a special prosecutor said on Monday.

Dapaah has denied any crimes, but the case drew criticism from Ghana's opposition who questioned why a minister had such large amounts of cash in her house.

Special prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said Dapaah was placed under arrest on Monday "in respect of suspected corruption and corruption-related offences regarding large amounts of money."

Ghana's special prosecutor's office deals with cases of corruption involving public officials, judges or senior political party members.

The arrest came as President Nana Akufo-Addo's government is tackling the west African country's worst economic crisis in years which has pushed Ghana to seek a $3 billion loan from the IMF.

She handed in her resignation as the weekend and in a statement "I am resigning therefore because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of the government and a hindrance to the work of government,".

According to court documents, the two domestic workers face charges of stealing $1 million, 300,000 euros and millions of local Ghanaian cedis, as well as clothing. from a bedroom last year.

Akufo-Addo on Sunday accepted the resignation and applauded the former minister for her loyalty and "devotion", his spokesman said.

Former Ghana President John Dramani Mahama, who is the opposition NDC candidate for the 2024 election, described the incident as "scandalous".